JAY — Bertrand C. Turmel, 77, a resident of Crash Road, Jay, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 4, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born July 15, 1933, in Jay, the son of Antonio and Marie (LaPointe) Turmel. He was a graduate of Jay High School and the University of Maine, Orono.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955. Bert went to work for International Paper in 1959 as an electrical engineer in Niagara Falls, N.Y. On August 20, 1960, at St. Rose of Lima Church in Jay, he married his wife of 50 years, Dolores Tessier. They returned to Niagara Falls to start their lives together. In 1963, Bert was transferred to Ticonderoga, N.Y., where he worked for 13 years. During that time he worked on an International Paper engineering project in Vancouver, B.C., for a year and a half. In 1976, they returned to Maine, where Bert continued to work for International Paper at the Androscoggin Mill in Jay, until his retirement in 1992.

After his retirement, he served on the Maine State Board of Property Tax Review for 10 years. Bert enjoyed carving, woodworking and watercolor painting. He also enjoyed spending time and sharing his many talents with his grandchildren. Bert was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Church and a lifetime member of Knights of Columbus. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather and will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife, Dolores Turmel of Jay; his sons, daughters and grandchildren, Lisa Fellows and her husband, Michael, and their sons, Ryan and Mitchell of Readfield, Christopher Turmel and his wife, Jennifer, and their children, Anne, Sarah, Mark and James of Portland, Gregory Turmel and his wife, Jennifer, and their children, Kristin, Austin, Aaron and Rachel of Mt. Juliet, Tenn., Anthony Turmel of Gray and his son, Nathan, and his wife, Charlotte, of the U.S. Air Force, stationed in England; Philip Turmel and his wife, Patricia, and their children, David, Amanda and Celine of Fayetteville, Ga., Carolyn Gosselin and her husband, Maurice, and their sons, Ryan and Scott of Biddeford, and Annette Kiesow and her husband, Damon, and their son, Joshua, of Merrimack, N.H. He is also survived by his brother, Joseph Turmel of Mojave, Calif.; and two sisters, Viola Aldrich of Norway and Armance Rich and her husband, Robert, of Auburn.

He was predeceased by brothers and sisters, Real, Guy, Ulric and Emery Turmel, Rhea Cornelio, Liette Elskamp and Marie Poulin.