TURNER – Sheldon L. McLaughlin, 71, of Turner, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, Jan. 2.

Sheldon was born in Turner on Oct. 6, 1937, the son of Ronald and Corinne McLaughlin.

Educated in Turner schools and upon graduation from Leavitt Institute in 1956, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a signalman aboard the U.S.S. NOA during the Cuban missile crisis.

He married Rhoda M. Richmond of Turner on Oct. 18, 1958. They had two children, Martha E. Butcher of Turner, and David C. McLaughlin of Turner. He was predeceased by his wife, Rhoda, on Nov. 28, 1987.

Sheldon was employed for many years by Union Water Power Co. as a dam keeper and later by the highway departments of the state of Maine and the town of Turner, and Butcher Excavating. In recent years, he was very active within the Turner Village Church as a member and trustee.

His greatest passions included hunting, fishing, tending his trout ponds, feeding the deer and birds and producing his own maple syrup. Sheldon will be most remembered and admired for his willingness to lend a helping hand to others or to offer his advice as well as his Yankee ingenuity to build or repair just about anything.

He is survived by his longtime companion, Lois Franklin; his children, Martha E. Butcher, David C. McLaughlin and his wife, Bonnie; granddaughters Kayla Butcher of Augusta, and Kristen and Kacie Butcher of Turner; grandsons Derek and Scott McLaughlin of Turner; a brother, Clifton L. McLaughlin of Villanova, Pa.; a sister, Sharon M. Bremner of Turner; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents; his wife; and a grandson, Brett R. McLaughlin.