Ethel (Kimball) Bean Turner

OTISFIELD – Ethel Bean Turner, 76, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, at Stephens Memorial Hospital surrounded by her loving family. A wonderful wife, mother, ‘Nana’, a devoted community member, and dedicated business owner, Ethel touched and inspired countless lives with her kindness and energy.

She was born on Feb. 14, 1947, in Rumford, the daughter of Ralph and Alice Hunter Kimball. She grew up with her three sisters on a farm in Albany Township.

Ethel graduated as valedictorian from Gould Academy in 1965 and then studied medical technology at Colby Junior College for Women, earning her bachelor’s degree. Afterward, she returned to Maine and married Stephen Bean of Otisfield.

Ethel and Steve managed ‘The Cape’ cottages on Thompson Lake, where they built life-long friendships with families who visited from near and far. Tragically, after eleven years of marriage, Steve passed away, leaving Ethel with four young children. Later, she married Craig Turner, who also had two children. Craig worked as Deputy District Attorney and Ethel continued to run the resort business, a true labor of love.

Ethel was passionate about community service, including starting The Otisfield Historical Society in 1981, in order to preserve the history of The Cape and other local stories. She was an active member of Otisfield Free Baptist Church where she and daughter Sarah sang in the choir. She spent countless hours tending her gardens around The Cape and beautifying community spaces. She will be remembered most for her selfless, caring personality and amazing heart.

After their children were grown, she and Craig enjoyed traveling the world and hiking and snowshoeing the mountains of Maine and New Hampshire.

She lives on in the memories of her devoted husband of 38 years, Craig; daughters Sarah Dailey, of Otisfield, and Amber and husband, Scott Ingoglia, of Walla Walla, Wash., and sons David Bean, of Biddeford, Jonathan Bean and Jessie Chase, of Westbrook, Mark Turner and Emily Woodworth of Norway, and Rellan Turner of Portland; and nine wonderful grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters Dorothy Adams, of Hanover, Norma Salway, of Portland, Sylvia Swan, of Auburn; and several cousins; nieces, and nephews; and many very special friends who will dearly miss her.

Her family is forever grateful for the loving daily support provided by Laura Bean and Anna Minas during Ethel’s struggles with dementia.

A celebration of Ethel’s life will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21 at the East Otisfield Free Baptist Church, 231 Rayville Rd. in Otisfield, with committal to follow at Elmwood Cemetery immediately afterward.

Arrangements are being made by Chandler Funeral Homes.

Memorial donations

may be made in her memory to the Otisfield

Historical Society.