TURNER – Described as a good chief and excellent leader, Laurence Gagne had a career with the Turner Fire Department that spanned five decades.

He spent years as a forestry warden and years dispatching for the Turner Rescue with his wife, Laurel.

Laurence Gagne died Friday at age 76.

Gagne took over as chief of the Fire Department when Lloyd Libby left in 1979. Libby said he worked with Gagne for years as his assistant and then as his captain.

“He and Laurel were both very dedicated. They loved their town and loved their work,” said Libby. “They just spend countless hours in public service.”

Three years ago, Laurel Gagne received a Real Hero award through an American Red Cross and Channel 13 program.

She later told a reporter that on the morning she accepted the award, “I said one of the most important people I had to thank was my husband. When the emcee asked him to come forward, I had to say, ‘He’s not here, somebody had to stay home and answer the phone.'”

Gagne was fire chief for 19 years and was at the helm when Chief Steve Fish joined the department.

“He was a man I learned a lot from, he was an excellent leader,” said Fish.

He said Gagne hadn’t been active with the department for several years but had continued dispatching for the Turner Rescue until he got sick.

A police color guard and firetruck will follow Gagne’s casket from the Calvary Baptist Church to the Turner Village Cemetery on Monday after the 2 p.m. funeral.