WEST GARDINER — Theo K. Turcotte, 98, of West Gardiner, passed away peacefully on October 15, 2012, at home, in the presence of her daughter, Sherry.

She was born in Weeks Mills, Maine on July 11, 1914, the second daughter of John Cony and Kathleen Pratt Malcolm. She grew up in Hallowell, Farmingdale, Gardiner, and West Gardiner. At the age of 14, she went to work in the Hi Style shoe factory in Hallowell (now Cotton Mill Apartments). As one of seven children, she chose to work in order to help out her family.

At the same shoe factory she met Lionel “Babe” Turcotte whom she eventually married on Augusta 27, 1938. They enjoyed 70 wonderful years of marriage before his passing on February 3, 2009.

Theo was also predeceased by her parents, one sister, Evelyn Jones, three brothers, Winfield, Cony and Emery Malcolm, sisters-in-law, Katherine French, Carolyn (Kay) Turcotte, Virgina Jordan, Muriel Malcolm and Margaret (Honey) Malcolm, brothers-in-law, Adolph Turcotte, Arthur French, Erland Jordan, Bernard Jones, Bill Upton and Frank Pond.

She is survived by her five children, Sherry Turcotte, her caretaker, of West Gardiner, Jude Torrington and her husband, Rawn, of Manchester, Joe Turcotte and his wife Raye, of Augusta, Kerry Tracy and her husband Dennis, of Ellsworth, Bob Turcotte and his wife Cindy, of Litchfield, and her special honorary daughter, Pam Taylor and her husband Steve, of Porter; seven grandchildren: Joe Turcotte Jr. and his wife Kristin, of Waldoboro, Gina Turcotte of Augusta, Eric Tracy and his wife Wendy, of Falmouth, Kristy Dawes and her husband John, of Yarmouth, Tom Torrington and his wife Katie, of West Gardiner, Tammy Turcotte and Jamie Nunez of Portland and Shelby Turcotte and his wife Heather, of Brunswick; ten great grandchildren: Jenna Turcotte of Augusta, Austin, GraceAnn, and Jacob Turcotte of Waldoboro, Caroline and Julia Tracy of Falmouth, Lauren and Justin Dawes of Yarmouth and Vanesza and Anthony Nunez of Portland, as well as two great grandchidren yet to be born, one in November and on in April.

She is survived by two sisters: Minnie Pond of Lewiston and Madolyn Upton of Cherryfield, sister-in-law Kathryn Malcolm of Farmingdale and several nieces and nephews.

During her lifetime, Theo worked very hard at various jobs- at several different shoe factories as well as running a day care in her home during the 1950’s to 1960’s. In the mid 1970’s, she found the job she wanted most of her life! She became the bookkeeper at Manson and Church Pharmacy in Gardiner, doing the billing, accounts payable, etc. working at a desk using pens, pencils, files, etc. (no computer). She said it was the best job she ever had, working for Jim Church and Rich Hachey. She loved every minute of her job retiring in 1985. She only wished she had found that job sooner!

Mum loved the simple pleasures of life, she enjoyed time with family, loved a good, hot cup of coffee with a donut, black raspberry ice cream, watching the sunset and enjoying the birds, the Eastern Bluebird being her favorite. She loved all animals, flowers, country music (and could often be heard humming or singing her favorite tune as she worked around the house), bingo, slot machines, scratch tickets, Christmas lights, winter sledding, swimming in a Hawaiian lagoon, eating out and traveling. She and dad traveled to Florida in their motor home for 15 winters in a row. They also drove across the U.S. two different times and flew to Hawaii on vacation 8 times. She was proud to have traveled 49 of the 50 states, Alaska being the exception, as well as to Canada several times. She loved life, her family, her home and “going for a ride” especially her almost daily rides to “T’s Golf”.

She was a member of the Cobbosseecontee Grange 100 for 60 years, holding several offices: master, overseer, chaplain, secretary, and ceres. She was also a member of Kennebec Pomona Grange as well as a member of the state and national grange. She served on installation teams throughout the state and became a state Grange Junior Deputy along with her husband, the Grange Deputy, instructing subordinate granges during the 1960’s and 1970’s. When Cobbosseecontee Grange closed, she joined Mill Stream Grange in Vienna.

The family would like to thank Karen Gallant, hospice nurse, home health aides, Emily, Mary, Donna Lee and Lisa, and Lisbon Family Practice Staff, Dr. Stephen Fairchild and nurses Terri and Lisa for their help and wonderful care of Mum.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Theo K. Turcotte Scholarship Fund to be set up and awarded to a Gardiner Area High School graduate each June. Contributions should be sent to the Theo K. Turcotte Fund, c/o Andrea Disch, MSAD #11, 150 Highland Ave., Gardiner, ME 04345.

Condolences to the family may be sent to theoturcotte2yahoo.com or staplesfuneralhome.com.

Visiting hour were on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, and from 10-11am Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012 at Staples Funeral Home in Gardiner, followed by the service at 11am Oct. 18th at the Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Cherry Hill Cemetery on High Street in West Gardiner.