ROCKLAND — Marilyn L. “Sis” Turner, 78, died peacefully Saturday, July 21, 2012, at the Knox Center in Rockland, where she resided the past year.

Born in Augusta on April 8, 1934, she was the daughter of Fred L. and Lura Norcross Turner. While growing up on her family’s North Augusta farm, she attended local schools and enjoyed the activities, chores and warm family lifestyle afforded to a farm family during that era. She was a member of Weymouth Grange and loved spending time at the family’s Sheepscot Lake camp.

Sis enjoyed attending agricultural fairs, particularly Windsor Fair and Union Fair. In 1976, she moved with her family to Thomaston. For several years she enjoyed attending and working at Coastal Workshop in Camden. She was pleased each year to participate in the Special Olympics, with bowling being her favorite sport. In 1991, Sis bowled in the International Special Olympics in Minnesota. She once traveled with Coastal Workshop to Washington, D.C., to attend the International Very Special Arts Conference. While in Washington, Sis was honored to meet Sen. George Mitchell. Sis retired from the Coastal Workshop in 2006.

After the deaths of her parents, she lived with and participated in the lives of her nieces and nephews. More than anything, Sis was devoted to her family. She loved being involved in all their lives and happenings. Her family affectionately remembered that Sis considered herself “The Boss” and always wanted to have possession of the TV remote.

An avid Red Sox fan, she attended several games at Fenway Park. She spent many hours doing cross-stitch and embroidery work, usually with a cup of coffee nearby. Sis also loved recanting stories of years ago, telling each as if it happened yesterday.

For more than eight years, Sis resided at The Talbot Home in Rockland where she enjoyed the company and companionship of the other residents as well as the caring staff.

Other than her parents, Sis was predeceased by her sister, Patricia Turner Saunders; her brother-in-law, W. Bruce Saunders; and her aunt, Marie Turner Burton. She is survived by one niece, Kimberly Saunders Appleby and her husband, Scott, of South Thomaston; two nephews, Douglas A. Saunders and his wife, Barbara, of Tenants Harbor and Derek J. Saunders and his wife, Melanie, of Thomaston; seven great-nieces, Kristin Saunders Falla and her husband, Daniel, of Tenants Harbor, Kelly M. Saunders of South Thomaston, Rachel Appleby Hart and her husband, Robert, of Clinton, Mass., Lindsey Appleby Belanger and her husband, Gabriel, of Buxton, Gretchen A. Appleby of Portland, Amber M. Saunders of Warren, and Nicole A. Saunders of Thomaston; and one great-nephew, William R. Saunders of Thomaston.

Friends and relatives are invited to visit from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 26 at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St., Rockland. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 27 at Resthaven Cemetery, Route 32, Windsor.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Coastal Opportunities, P.O. Box 637, Camden, ME 04843; or The Talbot Home, 73 Talbot Ave., Rockland, ME 04841.

To share a memory or story with Sis’s family, please visit her online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.