Published in the March 1, 2016 edition.
STANDISH, Maine — Pamela Ellen Turner, 49, died on Feb. 25.
Pam was diagnosed with cancer in 2012 and for the next four years, she exhibited such a positive attitude during treatment that many people didn’t know she was ill. Pam kept a “Life is Good” outlook throughout her illness. Over the past few weeks, she adopted “Choose Happiness” to help her family remember that life must go on. She passed away at her home with her husband, Bret, by her side.
Pam was born on Sept. 29, 1966. She was the daughter of the late James N. and Anne C. (Henderson) Picone. She graduated from Wakefield High School in 1984 and Framingham State College in 1988. She received her master’s in Library Science from Simmons College in 1989.
Pam loved her job and the people and community she served as director of the Baxter Memorial Library in Gorham, Maine for over 22 years. Prior to working at Baxter, she had served at Lithgow Library in Augusta, Maine. She developed a love of libraries while working at Beebe Memorial Library in Wakefield throughout her high school and college years. Pam was also a huge fan of the Boston Red Sox and she enjoyed reading, traveling, quilting, knitting and spending time with family and friends.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 26 years, Bret C. Turner, of Standish. She is also survived by a sister, Melinda A. Parry and her husband David of Wakefield. She is also survived by a brother, Glenn A. Picone of Reading. She is also survived by a sister-in-law Vicki E. Bernard and her husband Steve of Rochester, N.Y.; brother-in-law Robert Carter Olson and wife Renée of Gold Canyon, Ariz.; mother-in-law, E. Laddie E. Patterson of Ocean Park, Maine; and father-in-law, Rev. Dr. Carrol A. Turner and wife Joyce of Rochester, N.Y. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Adrienne, Thomas, Jordan, Jimmy, Shelby and Charlie, as well as several grand nieces and nephews. Pam also had many nieces and nephews who, although not blood related, called her Auntie Pam and she loved them equally as well. In addition to her parents, Pam is predeceased by her sister-in-law, Kathy Olson.
A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at The Cressey Road United Methodist Church, 81 Cressey Rd., Gorham, Maine. Arrangements by the Dolby and Dorr Funeral Chapel, Gorham. To express condolences and to participate in Pam’s online tribute, please visit www.dolbyfuneralchapels.com.
