Betty Jean (Harriman) Turner

GARDINER – Betty Jean (Harriman) Turner, 80, passed peacefully at Gray Birch on Feb. 13, 2025, surrounded by loved ones.

Betty was born on June 30, 1944, at the Gardiner hospital to Thelma Louise Harriman and Keith Arlington Harriman. She graduated from Gardiner Area High School class of 1962. She met the love of her life, Lee M. Turner at a young age, and they were married on June 16, 1962. They were happily married for 62 years.

After Lee got out of the Navy, they moved to Connecticut where they raised their three children Jean, Joe and Jeff. Betty was the first person in the state of Connecticut to receive a daycare license and ran a daycare out of her home for many years. After almost 30 years in Connecticut, they moved back to Maine to be closer to family.

Betty took pride in working at the L.L.Bean company during the holidays and working various other jobs before retiring. She loved to bake for her family, peanut brittle, beef jerky, apple sauce and candy were favorites. She loved spending time with family and friends. She spent many hours talking on the phone to loved ones, going out to eat and going on vacation yearly. She also loved watching Western shows and movies, playing poker with family and friends and listening to Elvis.

Betty was predeceased by her parents, Thelma Louise Harriman and Keith Arlington Harriman; her sisters Sandra Woodward and Sylvia Myshrall.

She is survived by her loving husband of 62 years, Lee M. Turner of West Gardiner; her three children, Jean Edwards and her husband, Steven Edwards of Gardiner, Joseph Turner and his wife, Scarlett Turner of Belgrade and Jeff Turner and his wife, Tanya Turner of Pittston; 11 grandchildren, Katrina Foss, Kevin Edwards, Kayla Buckley, Maria Turner, Joseph Turner, Michael Turner, Trisha Trinidad, Steven Turner, Kiana Turner, Taylor Turner and Kaylee Turner; and six great-grandchildren, Mya Ranks, Chloe Edwards, Logan Edwards, Olivia Buckley, Kyle Buckley and Charlotte Buckley; many nieces, nephews, beloved family members and friends.

The family would like to thank the staff at Gray Birch Rehabilitation and Long Term Care for the excellent care and services that they provided to Betty and her family during her stay there.

Graveside service and Celebration of Life will be held in the spring. Funeral arrangements and guidance are under the care of Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website http://www.StaplesFuneralHome.com