Bernice “Bunny” Leota (Seaward) Gilbert

AUBURN – In the passing of Bernice “Bunny” Leota (Seaward) Gilbert on Dec. 26, 2024, Turner has lost one of its best. She was born to Elmer and Leota (Denico) Seaward on her mother’s birthday, Oct. 6, 1930, at the family farm in Turner.

Bunny was a 1948 graduate of the Leavitt Institute in Turner. In 1949 she married Leighton Charles Gilbert, together they raised their three children, Vicky, Greg, and Jeff. Most importantly, Bunny helped her children appreciate the rewards of hard work and dedication, leading by example. Bunny did what she needed to do, and in the way she wanted to do it. She was a delightful person even in the later throes of Alzheimer’s. Diversity and hard work were who she was.

Bunny had many goals and applied herself in achieving them. A short list of her diverse talents would include running the town switchboard, packing apples, and cooking for Ricker Hill camps during the season, bookkeeping for Decoster Egg Farms during their expansion, and bookkeeping at Murray Oil. Her entrepreneurial side was there all along and by the time she retired she had done everything from running Bunny’s Lunch in Buckfield to running her own real estate and construction firm, BJ Builders. At the latter she built many homes in Androscoggin and Oxford counties. You can see several of them on Snell Hill Road in Turner.

Bunny was deeply involved in community government and became the first female selectwoman for the town of Turner. She later served as town administrator for both Turner and Leeds. She had a creative side as well, and was an accomplished seamstress, knitter, quilt maker, and gardener. Perhaps most notably, Bunny devoted her skills and energy to helping organize the celebration of Turner’s bicentennial and restoration of the Leavitt Institute building. Her picture hangs in the Institute building in recognition of her tireless efforts. Randy Travis sings: “It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you, it’s what you leave behind you when you go,” words that ring true to Bunny’s legacy and to those who knew and loved her.

Bunny leaves behind daughter Vicky (Larry) Catlett from Leeds, son Gregory (Nancy) Gilbert from Turner, and son Jeffrey Gilbert from Turner; grandchildren Gregory (Dawn) Gilbert, Jr., Ian Catlett, Skye Catlett, Holly Catlett, Jessica (Gavin) Smith, Melissa Legare (Charles Skinner, Jr.), Dustin Gilbert, and Lyndsey (Chad) Day; “Adopted granddaughter” Ashley Golden; great grandchildren Kayleigh Gilbert, Ashton Dozois, Gibson Dozois, Simon Catlett Feldman, Ruth Alice Skinner, Charles Skinner III, Leighton Day, Samuel Day, and Bode Day; sister Luverne Plourde, and sisters-in-law Elaine Bonney, Pat Gilbert, Debbie Gilbert, and Toddy Kilbreth (whom she considered a sister); and many nieces and nephews and good friends.

She was predeceased by her parents Elmer and Leota (Denico) Seaward, husband Leighton, and brothers Ronald Seaward and Junior Seaward.

Visitation prior to the service from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday May 31, 2025, at the First Universalist Church of Turner Center, 450 Turner Center Road, Turner, Maine, where Bunny was a member and past president of the Ladies Circle. At 12 p.m. the Celebration of Bunny’s life will begin.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff at Andwell Health Partners and Schooner Memory Care.

Private family interment at Turner Village Cemetery, Turner, Maine. Arrangements by FINLEY FUNERAL HOME, 15 Church Street, Livermore Falls, Maine. Messages of condolence may be sent to: http://www.finleyfuneralhome.com.

Donations in Bunny’s name may be made to:

Andwell Hospice

In remembrance

of Bernice Gilbert

15 Strawberry Ave.

Lewiston, ME 04240 or:

The First Universalist Church of Turner Center

c/o Holly Catlett,

Treasurer

214 Stetson Road

Lewiston, ME 04240