Ellsworth
On Tuesday, November 10, 2015, L. Lionell Tucker went to Heaven to join his wife of 65 years, Joan Willey Tucker. Lionell was born on March 26, 1926 in Cherryfield, Maine to the late Hoyt B. and Maude M. Tucker.
After graduating as Salutatorian from Cherryfield Academy, Lionell enlisted in the United States Navy to serve his Country during World War II. After Naval Training in Sampson, New York, Lionell took a train to San Diego where he joined the crew on Landing Craft Infantry LCI 1057. From 1944-1946, Lionell served as a Signalman 3rd Class in the Pacific including the Battle of Okinawa. Signalman Tucker earned the WWII Victory Medal, American Area Medal and the Asiatic Pacific Area Medal (1 Star).
Lionell married the love of his life Joan W. Tucker and they moved to Northeast Harbor to raise their family. He did carpentry and painting at many of the summer homes and eventually worked for Mrs. Flagler Harris followed by Henry F. and Penelope Harris. Lionell loved to read and was a self-educated man who learned the Latin names and many nuances of the flowers and plants he was so passionate about. The garden and grounds he so lovingly tended for more than 40 years for the Harris family were featured in many a book, magazine and garden tours.
Lionell once drew a family tree showing the lives that grew from the original branch he and Joan created including: Persis Tucker Jordan and husband William “Bill” Jordan of Machias, Russell Tucker and wife Alice, Anne Tucker of Trenton and their youngest daughter, Stacy Helen Tucker-Stanley and husband Anthony “Tony” Stanley, Jr. of Greater Portland. They were blessed with six grandchildren: grandson Shawn Sprague of Bar Harbor, grandson Willey Jordan and wife Jennifer of Brewer, granddaughter Nettie-Kate Jordan of Machias and granddaughters Britt and Heather Tucker plus five great-grandchildren: Lukas, Erik and Aubrey Jordan, Henry and Eliza Sprague. Siblings include Lawrence, Alice, Brian and Elizabeth “Libby” Smith. He was pre-deceased by grandson Joshua S. Sprague and by a brother, Alan. His wife Joan passed away on June 28, 2015 and after a few heart-broken months apart, they are now reunited again in Heaven.
Besides his enthusiasm for reading, Lionell loved his cats, the outdoors and enjoyed hunting around Tunk Mountain. He was a member of the Cherryfield and Northeast Harbor Masonic Lodges and attended the Union Church of Northeast Harbor.
Graveside Services will be held 10am, Sat. Nov. 14, 2015 at Forest Hill Cemetery, Northeast Harbor.
Donations in honor of Lionell Tucker can be made to the Cherryfield Academy Community Center, 53 Main Street Cherryfield, ME 04622 or to the Josh Sprague Scholarship Fund, c/o The First, P.O. Box 258, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 113 Franklin St., Ellsworth.
Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com