He was born on May 31, 1931in Skowhegan to Adolph and Delphine (Beaulier) Turcotte. As a child, Lee attended Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic School, and graduated from Skowhegan Area High School, class of 1950. After graduating, he served in the United States Air Force, stationed at Sheppard's Air Force Base in Texas. Upon returning to Skowhegan, he attended Skowhegan Business School where he received a degree in accounting. He worked for a short time at Hartland Tannery before spending the next 41 years as an accountant with Graffman's, which later became Motor Supply.
Lee was an active member in his community. He was a communicant of Christ the King Parish, bringing communion to shut-ins and setting up for the masses at area nursing homes, and he was a volunteer firefighter for the Cornville Fire Department. Lee worked hard to start and maintain the Cornville/Athens Food Pantry and has been known by many as the ''Tabman" collecting can tabs in more than 100 area schools for the children at the Shriner's Hospital.
After losing his oldest daughter to cancer Lee spent the next few years collecting bottles for the American Cancer Society. In one year, he raised $12,215 dollars, one bottle at a time. Over the three years he raised a total of $25,000 and spent many hours chatting with the people he met along the way.
Lee was working in his vegetable and flower gardens and raised the most beautiful gladiolus, which were displayed at the Skowhegan State Fair for many years. Lee was also an avid sports fan and spent much of his younger years playing baseball and bowling. He absolutely loved watching the Red Sox play baseball and rarely missed watching a game.
Lee was predeceased by his first wife Edith (Bachelder) Turcotte, his daughter Pamela Turcotte, and his brother William Turcotte.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Lois; two sons, David Turcotte and wife Nancy of Cornville, and Mark Turcotte and girlfriend Bridget of Cornville; three daughters Susan Pelletier of Skowhegan, Patricia Kilton and husband Gary of Durham, and Caryl Estabrook and husband Philip of Cornville; son-in-law Mark LeBlanc of Skowhegan; two stepsons, Richard Quimby Jr. and wife Linda of Norridgewock, Darren Quimby and wife Jennifer of Cornville; two stepdaughters Cheryl Greeley and husband Steve of Pittsfield, and Brenda Dyer and Jerry Prescott of Cornville; eleven grandchildren; one great granddaughter; nine step grandchildren; eight step great grandchildren; two brothers Linwood Turcotte and wife Betty and Harold Turcotte and wife Leona of Norridgewock; and many nieces and nephews.
''Well done, my good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21) May you rest in peace now.
We would like to thank all the Maine General Hospice volunteer's and nurses, the Bridge's Home Healthcare aides Shae-lynn and Barbara, and the VA nurse Mary Beth for your great care.
Visitation will be held from 5-8pm, Friday, November 9, 2018 at Smarts and Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave. Skowhegan. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10am, Saturday, November 10, 2018 at Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church, Water St., Skowhegan. Burial with military honors will follow at Calvary Cemetery.
In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Cornville/Athen's Food Pantry, 493 W. Ridge Rd., Cornville, ME 04976
