WASHBURN, Maine – Gwendolyn M. (Churchill) McBurnie passed peacefully from this life on December 15, 2017. She was born on August 9, 1931, the eldest child of Harold E. and A. Beulah (Carmichael) Churchill at her family’s home in Wade. Gwen was educated in the Washburn school system and attended the Aroostook State Teachers College (now UMPI) for two years.
In addition to working for her family on their farm, she was employed by Sears, Roebuck & Co. in Presque Isle, then became a devoted wife and homemaker. Once her sons were school age, she went to work for S.A.D. 45 (Washburn) in the school cafeteria, where she served for many years. She was an excellent baker, an avid gardener and a bird lover; in retirement she enjoyed many summer days in her vegetable and flower gardens and at the camps on the Seboeis River and No. 9 Lake.
Gwen was predeceased by first husband, Gordon (Gary) McBurnie, second husband, Emmett (Bud) Porter; brother, Merle; sister, Elaine; foster brother, William (Bill) Tactikos; sister-in-law, Anna (McBurnie) Walsh; and brothers-in-law John Walsh and Clayton Coffin.
She is survived by her sons, Michael of Wade and Brewer, and Jeffrey and his wife, Kimberly, of Holden, ME; her grandchildren, Megan of Holden, MA, and Jason of Bloomington, IN; and her brothers, Nathaniel and wife, Cynthia, of Brewer and Joseph (Steve) and wife, Melody, of Council Bluffs, IA; and sisters-in-law, Joy Churchill of Washington, PA, and Lynette Coffin of Westbrook, ME; as well as many special nieces and nephews and their families. She also leaves behind a very special ‘second family’, Cindy (Porter) McLaughlin and Mark Savage, Althea (Porter) and Tom Holz, and Diane (Porter) and Roger Libby, and their families. Finally, there are the special neighbors and friends, Helen and Fred Tompkins, Donna and Andy Turner, Molly and Terry Hafford, and Sheila and Kim Cunningham, and longtime friend, Betty Tardiff.
Gwen’s family would like to express its deepest gratitude for the exceptional care she received from the nursing and hospice care staffs of Brewer Rehab and Beacon Hospice Services. She was treated with dignity and love in her final weeks, and was kept comfortable throughout. She often commented on how well they treated her.
Visitation will be held at Duncan-Graves Funeral Home in Presque Isle on Saturday, December 30th from 1 – 3 p.m. immediately followed by a memorial service. A committal service will be held in the spring at the Crouseville Cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed at
www.duncan-graves.com.
