BATH — Clare I. Sturgeon, 80, of Bath, died July 17 at Maine Medical Center, in Portland, due to injuries from a fall.

She was born Sept. 22, 1932, the daughter of Evie A. and Regina M. Babine. She graduated from Morse High School in 1950.

Sturgeon worked for several stores in downtown Bath during her youth. She married Benton V. Sturgeon in 1953. After her children were grown, she worked for the City of Bath on the former Board of Voter Registration, the City Clerk’s Office and the Bath Assessor’s Office.

Sturgeon 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 church suppers. Although she professed to hate cooking, her “famous” apple crisp and grapenut pudding were well known at the suppers. She was a member of Tres Diaz of Maine.

She loved the 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 and friend, Missy. She also enjoyed reading mysteries, solving newspaper and jigsaw puzzles, knitting, crocheting, traveling and music.

All her life, Sturgeon was a caregiver for family members, friends and neighbors. She could always be counted on when someone needed a helping hand.

Sturgeon is survived by her husband Benton, of Bath; her sons, Barry Sturgeon, of Bath, and Warren “Kipp” Sturgeon and his wife Mary, of Salem, Conn.; her daughters, Laurie Reed and her husband James, of Bath, and Kerry Nelson and her husband Albert Jr., of West Bath; and two granddaughters, Erin Sturgeon, of Brighton, Mass., and Elizabeth Nelson, of West Bath. She is also survived by sisters-in-law and dear friends Dot Mullen, of West Bath, Nora Kelley, of St. Francis, and Avis Bendure, of Texas, as well as brother-in-law William Smart, of Bath. In addition, she is survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends of all ages.

She was predeceased by her parents; brothers James, Gerald, Everett, Harold, Eugene, Gervase , John and Charles Babine; and sisters Stella McLaughlin, Dorothy McPhee, Regina Babine and Mary Smart.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bath United Methodist Church or the charity of one’s choice. 

Arrangements are under the care of Direct Cremation of Maine.

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