Obituary of Clare I. Sturgeon

Clare I. Sturgeon, 80, of Bath passed away on July 17, 2013, at Maine Medical Center in Portland due to injuries from a fall. She was born on September 22, 1932, the daughter of Evie A. and Regina M. (McLellan) Babine. She graduated from Morse High School in 1950. She worked for several stores in downtown Bath during her youth. She married Benton V. Sturgeon in 1953. After her children were grown, she worked at various times for the City of Bath on the former Board of Voter Registration, the City Clerk’s Office and the Bath Assessor’s Office. She was an active volunteer in the early days of the Coasters and delivered Meals on Wheels. In later years, she volunteered at American Red Cross Blood Drives and at the Bath Food Bank. She was an active member of the Bath United Methodist Church for over 40 years serving on several committees, singing in the choir and working on suppers. Although she professed to hate cooking, she was well known for her “famous” apple crisp and grapenut pudding at church suppers. She was a member of Tres Diaz of Maine. She loved her Running Start group at Mid Coast Hospital; playing canasta with Dot, Grace and Rita; and her annual fall retreat with Cathy, Cheryl, Edie, Shirley and Wendy. She looked forward to weekly appointments with her hairdresser/friend, Missy. She also enjoyed reading mysteries, doing newspaper and jigsaw puzzles, knitting, crocheting, traveling and music. All her life, she was a care giver for family members, friends and neighbors. She could always be counted on when someone needed a helping hand. She is survived by her husband Benton of Bath; her sons, Barry Sturgeon of Bath and Warren (Kipp) Sturgeon and his wife Mary of Salem, CT; her daughters, Laurie Reed and her husband James of Bath and Kerry Nelson and her husband Albert, Jr. of West Bath; two granddaughters, Erin Sturgeon of Brighton, MA and Elizabeth Nelson of West Bath. She is survived by sisters-in-law, (and dear friend) Dot Mullen of West Bath, Nora Kelley of St. Francis, ME and Avis Bendure of Texas as well as brother-in-law, William Smart of Bath. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends of all ages. She was predeceased by her parents; brothers, James, Gerald, Everett, Harold, Eugene, Gervase (Bussie), John (Clarence) and Charles Babine; and sisters, Stella McLaughlin, Dorothy McPhee, Regina Babine and Mary (Jeanette) Smart. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bath United Methodist Church or the charity of one’s choice. A memorial celebration will be held in a few weeks. Arrangements are under the care of Direct Cremation of Maine.