Helen A. Gardner. Joyce Elaine Poole.

Jan 04, 2026

Note: “People We’ve Lost” is a feature of the Bar Harbor Story where we share obituaries of people that the island lost in the previous 1-2 weeks.

We’re doing this because we think everyone deserves to be remembered as widely as possible and not behind paywalls or at a cost of $500 for people mourning. We’re free.

If you have an obituary for a loved one or friend that you can’t afford to place in other spaces, please let us know, and we’ll share it here for you.

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Helen A. Gardner

Swans Island

Helen A. Gardner, 77, died December 22, 2025, at her home with her family by her side. She was born May 12, 1948, in Castine, the daughter of Richard E., Sr. and Dorothy V. (Johnson) LeMoine.

Helen worked for the Swan’s Island School for many years. She also worked as a housekeeper and laundress. Helen was married to Kent Gardner for 47 years. They enjoyed spending time with the family and all the get together’s they had.

She is survived by 2 sons; Robert K. Gardner and wife Barbara and Fritz E. Gardner, all of Swans Island; a daughter Sue A. Treadwell and husband Timothy of Franklin; 4 grandchildren, Jordan and Steven Gardner, and T.J. and Ben Treadwell; 4 brothers, Richard E. Lemoine, Jr. and wife Jennifer, Gerald Lemoine and wife Sally, Jeff Lemoine and wife Jane, and Ronnie LeMoine; 3 sisters; Donna MacDonald, Tina Lunt and partner Butch Seavey, and Cindy Turner and husband Gary; 2 sister-in-laws Bethany Williams and Marcia Montague; a brother-in-law Gary Montague; and many nieces and nephews. Helen was predeceased by her parents, husband Kent, a sister Annette Lemoine and 2 brothers Ricky and Gilbert Lemoine.

Services will be announced in the spring.

Those who desire may make contributions in Helen’s memory to the National Kidney Foundation of Maine, P.O. Box 1134, Portland, ME. 04104.

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Joyce Elaine Poole

Bar Harbor and Tennessee

Joyce Elaine Poole, born in Bar Harbor, Maine, on Sept. 11, 1941, passed away on Christmas Eve 2025.

After graduating from Boston University as a lab technician, she moved back to Bar Harbor, where she fell in love with a Navy man. Throughout her life, she experienced many places, like Japan, California, Texas, Maryland, Guam, Hawaii, and the Philippines.

After her husband, James, retired, they decided to settle in Sevierville, Tenn., because they fell in love with the mountains. They owned and operated Old Smokey Chimney Sweeps from 1987 through 2000 when their son, Michael, took over his dad’s position and continued running the business with his mom until 2019. Joyce battled Alzheimer’s and dementia for the next 6-plus years before it got the best of her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fulton and Mertice Buzzell; former husband of 40 years, James W. Poole; his parents, Henry and Pearl Poole; her siblings, Carol Middleton and Gary Buzzell; and her eldest son, Timothy S. Poole.

Joyce is survived by two sons, Michael A. Poole and James M. Poole; her daughter-in-law, Patricia L. Poole; grandsons, Colton Daniel Poole, Christopher Aaron Poole (wife Keroly L. Poole), and Caleb Matthew Poole (fiancé Shyan Dague); along with two beautiful and talented great-granddaughters, Ayla Dague-Poole and Lola Poole; and sisters-in-law Denise Buzzell and Martha Buzzell. Joyce leaves behind several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and a multitude of friends around the world.

Online condolences may be made at atchleyfuneralhome.com.

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