People We've Lost
Merilyn A. Farley, Lavonne Jane Kirkland, Cindy Marie Langway Orcutt
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. 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.
Merilyn A. Farley
Southwest Harbor
Merilyn A. Farley passed away on April 13,2025 at home with the care of family and support from Beacon Hospice. She was born March 25,1931 in Waltham, Mass., the daughter of Fairfield W. and Arvilda F. (Jenkins) Morse of Weston Mass.
As a teenager her family moved to Southwest Harbor, Maine, and resided in Manset, where she graduated in 1949 from Pemetic High School. She married Elwell P. Farley in Feb.1951 and raised five children as a stay-at-home mom.
She later worked many years with Elwell at Farley's Carpets and several years for EBS in Town Hill. During that time, she was an active member of the Lioness Organization.
She loved and was very attuned to everything in nature. She would see things in nature or her garden others would overlook. Hiking, gardening, sailing, sewing, picnics on the beach, and ice boating on Echo Lake were things she enjoyed.
Many know of the hundreds of heart-shaped pillows she sewed from cloth remnants and gave to anyone and everyone she thought needed a little comfort. Many went to places like Sarah's House, cancer centers, veterans’ facilities, and with a nurse going to the Dominican Republic.
Merilyn is survived by her children: Earle and wife Patricia of Surry; Reg and Lydia of Trenton; Khris and spouse Grace of Southwest Harbor; Betsy and husband Don of China, ME: four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Merilyn was predeceased by her husband Elwell and a son Daniel.
The family intends on an early summer grave side service at the Mount Height Cemetery, Southwest Harbor.
Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com
Lavonne Jane Kirkland
Winter Harbor and Bar Harbor
Lavonne Jane Kirkland, a beloved mother, sister, and friend, passed away at her home in Winter Harbor, Maine, on December 31, 2024, at the age of 70.
Born on December 17, 1954, in Machias, Maine, Lavonne graduated from Machias Memorial High School in 1972 and earned her Cosmetology Certificate shortly thereafter. She worked as a cook at Jordan's Restaurant in Bar Harbor during her twenties, then moved on to work for the NADA in Virginia before returning to Maine, where she settled in Winter Harbor. For a couple years around 1995, Lavonne opened her own restaurant, The Old Post Office Restaurant in Gouldsboro. Among many other jobs, she notably worked as a cook at Chase's Restaurant and as a Produce Manager at the local IGA. After her health required her to stop working, Lavonne briefly created and sold baked goods from her home as Lavonne's Sweets & Treats.
Lavonne was a true Jill-of-all-trades, excelling in everything she set her mind to. Her adventurous spirit led her to scuba diving, skydiving, and mastering darts. She loved reading, drawing, puzzles, gardening, fishing, dancing, and practical jokes. She also had great sewing skills, and her daughter fondly remembers the handmade Halloween costumes she would make every year.
She had an immense love for animals, a passion nurtured during her time helping her Great Aunt Emily care for animals of all kinds, but Lavonne especially loved cats and cared for many throughout her life.
Lavonne is survived by her daughter, Allex J. Kirkland, and husband Bryce; her sister Cindy L. Bridges and husband Tom; her brother Barry K. Kirkland and wife Nola; her brother Brent L. Foss and wife Andrea; her nephews Shawn Goodwin and Roger E. Foss III; her nieces Jillian Wentworth, Mindy Sargent, and Abigail Foss, as well as many cousins and extended family members. Lavonne was predeceased by her parents, Bill Kirkland and Greta M. Foss; her aunts Leta A. Hileman and Genevieve M. Johnson; her brother Roger E. Foss Jr., and her partner of over 30 years, Fred A. Young.
A remembrance service and scattering of ashes will be held on the beach in Cutler, Maine, on July 27th, 2025 at noon.
Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com
Cindy Marie Langway Orcutt
Bangor, Ellsworth, Bar Harbor
Cindy Marie Langway Orcutt, 67, of Bangor, Maine, passed away early in the hours of April 2, 2025, to be with her Father in Heaven and reunite with her loving husband, Jerry.
A celebration of her life and spirit will be held in early spring at Hammond Street Congregational Church on June 7, 2025, at 1 p.m. with Pastor Gary Bagley officiating. The service will be followed by a short reception at the church and then her ashes will be buried at Village Cemetery in Corinna.
Cindy was born in Bangor, Maine, to Bill and Marie Langway on October 23, 1957. She was an avid athlete in high school, playing both softball and basketball, graduating from Hermon High in 1977, after her basketball team won the Eastern Maine Championships in 1976.
Cindy was a loving and dedicated mother, wife, sister and grandmother. She enjoyed time with her family and loved them all dearly and selflessly. She was fiercely proud of her children and grandchildren, and carried pictures and stories of them with her wherever she went.
Cindy also cherished her job as a driver for Downeast Transportation's Bar Harbor services for many years and always had a smile and a conversation for everyone. One year her quick responsiveness and ability to respond under pressure saved a passenger's life when she delivered them to the hospital directly from her bus because an ambulance would have taken too long. She would do just about anything for anybody if she thought it would help them.
Cindy was very talented in cake decorating and loved making cakes for her kids and grandkids. She was a very skilled seamstress as well, a talent she learned from her mother, Marie.
Cindy is survived by her daughter, Aimie Keigan of Medfield, Massachusetts; daughter, Amber Garrison of Huntsville, Alabama; son, Matthew Boucher of Waterville; son, Michael Boucher of Franklin; daughter, Molly Steele of Orland; sister, Geneva Frost of Milford; sister, Sherry Langway of Bangor; beloved granddaughters, Eva Schaab, Madeline Boucher, Vivienne Boucher, Jaina Garrison, Maeryna Garrison, Rebecca Wilson and Paige Steele; and beloved grandsons, William Keigan, Andrew Keigan, Baxter Boucher, Theodore Boucher, Fitzgerald Garrison and Ryan Steele. She was preceded in death by her husband of 28 years, Jerry Orcutt of Swans Island; mother, Marie Sawyer; father William Langway; and brother David Langway.
Cindy had a tender heart for animals and had many beloved pets over the years. Memorial donations may be made in her honor to Bangor Humane Society by contacting Director of Development, Kathryn Ravenscraft at kathrynr@bangorhumane.org.