Turner – Kellie Fortin knew her priorities were out of whack when she insisted her husband wait on customers while she – suffering from chest pains – waited in the back of her store, Murdock Country Creations, for an ambulance.

But it wasn’t until she saw the worried faces of her two stepchildren as she was being carried away that she had an epiphany.

“It was a very difficult decision for us, but, yes, we are closing the business,” said the award-winning entrepreneur. Customers were notified via e-mail last week.

Fortin thought she was having a heart attack that Friday, June 1, but a doctor diagnosed atypical chest pain.

“I was under too much stress,” Fortin said. “The doctor told me I was fine, but if I didn’t change my lifestyle, I’d be back.”

Self-employed since 1991, Fortin never dodged hard work. But the relentless pressure of keeping her high-end, specialty craft and gift store afloat was taking its toll.

“It was the 12 to 15 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Fortin, who said she cried a bucketful of tears before deciding to close. “And the economy is not doing well … we are the 10th scrapbooking store to close since November.”

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