People We've Lost
Patricia Ann Leland, Arthur Clifford Smallidge, Anne Corkran Nimick, Grover Nevells
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. 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.
Patricia Ann Leland
Trenton and Seal Harbor
Patricia Ann Leland, known as Patti, died peacefully at Woodlands Memory Care in Rockland, Maine on June 5, 2025, just a few days shy of her 68th birthday.
Patti was born June 8, 1957 at the US Air Force Hospital in Wimpole Park, Arrington England, to her parents Robert and Laureen Leland. After her father returned to the States, Patti spent her childhood growing up in Trenton, Maine.
She attended MDI High School, where she was involved in various activities and met many friends. After high school she began work at the Jackson Laboratory, starting a multi-decades work history on MDI that included the hospitality industry, the hospital, and the local public school system.
She raised her children in Seal Harbor and was involved with community activities such as teaching Sunday school and leading the local Girl Scouts chapter. Patti had an affinity for researching local and family history, most notably tracking her childrens’ genealogy back to Abraham Somes, namesake of Somes Sound and Somesville. She truly loved helping people find their roots and completed genealogy charts for several local families.
More recently, she pursued higher education in order to earn her certification as a special education teacher. She was particularly proud to work with local youth who had unique challenges.
She deeply loved her grandchildren and enjoyed watching their activities and spoiling them on the holidays. The oldest of her grandkids have many fond memories of epic “Christmas in July” celebrations at Gramma’s house.
Patti was one of the lucky ones later in life. She fell in love with a man she had known for decades, Chucky Stanley, and spent the last decade of her life with him. They enjoyed just over a year of marriage before she passed.
In addition to her husband, Patti is also survived by her daughter Monica and husband Travis (Jones) and their children, Alexis and Penelope. She is also survived by her youngest daughter, Robyn (Hanson) and her children Evan Beals, Cole Lessard, and Luke Lessard. Patti was proud to have her stepchildren join her family, and is also survived by Brandi Mitchell, Kristy Stanley, and Becca Stanley along with their children: Kaleb, Deven, Twilla, Mackenzie, Dylan, Teagan, and her step great-granddaughter, Emberly.
In memory of Patti, please consider donating to your local cemetery or genealogical association.
Arthur Clifford Smallidge
Trenton
Arthur Clifford Smallidge, 70 died peacefully June 16, 2025, at his home surrounded by family after a courageous battle with ALS.
Artie was born July 8, 1954, in Biloxi, Mississippi, the son of Ernest W. and Barbara L. (McCrea) Smallidge. He was a graduate of Mt. Desert Island High School and attended forestry school at the University of Maine, Presque Isle.
Artie married his soulmate Mary Ann Atkins on September 27, 1997, and they made their home in Trenton. Artie was a very devout Mason. He was raised up in Masonic Lodge A.F. & A.M.,#208 in Northeast Harbor. Later he joined David A. Hooper Lodge A.F. & A.M., #201 in Sullivan. He served in a number of positions in both lodges including as Past Master. Artie always loved being outside in nature, so in 1979, he became a Licensed Maine Guide. Artie loved to go to camp on Lower Lead Mountain Pond where he enjoyed hunting, fishing and family time.
He was a private estate manager in Northeast Harbor for most of his adult life. In 2012 while working for Butler Conservation Fund, he started viewing properties in Cobscook Bay in Washington County to begin a plan to develop a system of waterfront parks. The park system became his passion and opened in July 2020 under the name Cobscook Shores which he continued to be a part of building until his health declined in 2023.
Artie is survived by his father, Ernest “Bud” Smallidge of Ellsworth; his wife of 29 years, Mary Ann; his children, Arthur M. Smallidge and spouse Robbie of Seal Harbor, Jeremiah J. Smallidge of Stonington, Ronald L. Hudson, Jr. of Ellsworth, Christopher F. Hudson and wife Kelly, Heath R. Hudson, Savanna E. Havey and husband Joshua all of Hancock; two sisters, Beth Goodwin and husband Neil of Wells and Cindy Daniels and husband Patrick of Kennebunkport; 12 grandchildren, 6 great- grandchildren, a niece and 2 nephews. He was predeceased by his mother, Barbara and beloved son Barry R. Smallidge.
A Masonic service and celebration of life will be held 11 a.m., July 12, 2025, at Jordan-Fernald, 113 Franklin St., Ellsworth with a reception to follow.
Those who desire may make contributions in Artie’s memory to the ALS Northern NE Chapter, Donations Processing Center, PO Box 37022, Voone, IA 50037.
Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.
Anne Corkran Nimick
Bryn Mawr, PA. and Mount Desert
Anne Corkran Nimick, affectionately known as Nancy, died peacefully on June 14, 2025, having reached the age of 97 years and one day.
Nancy was born on June 13, 1928, in Bryn Mawr, Pa. She attended the Shipley School and graduated from The Westover School. She also attended Bryn Mawr College, where she served as class president and graduated with a degree in chemistry.
Nancy contributed her time as a volunteer in both local and national organizations. Her most meaningful volunteer commitment was her involvement with the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America. She served as national president from 1994 to 2000 and had previously served as national treasurer and treasurer of the Pennsylvania Society. She loved traveling around the country and meeting interesting women involved in historic preservation, patriotic service, and educational projects.
Nancy also visited many parts of the country as a volunteer for the Bryn Mawr College Admissions Office, interviewing potential candidates. Her green thumb was nourished as a member of The Planters and The Garden Club of Mount Desert, and she was an active parishioner at The Church of the Redeemer, where she served on the altar guild for many years. She was also a member of the Merion Cricket Club and the Northeast Harbor Tennis Club, where she enjoyed playing in regular tennis games well into her eighties.
One of her greatest joys was spending her summers in Northeast Harbor, looking out over Somes Sound, and watching the eagle perched just off her deck. She loved being out on the water, and while others would sit in the stern enjoying the sun, she loved nothing more than sitting up with the captain, with binoculars around her neck, looking at a chart and pointing out landmarks and wildlife.
She is survived by her children, Chip Nimick (Nancy), Anne Neilson (Carl), and John Nimick (Kate); four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and many more loving family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Woodward Withgott Corkran and Elizabeth Gribbel Corkran; her sister, Elizabeth Bancker Gribbel “Brownie” Corkran Gamble; and her brother, Woodward Withgott Corkran Jr.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, June 23, 2025, at The Church of the Redeemer, 230 Pennswood Road, Bryn Mawr, PA.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, 2715 Q Street NW, Washington, D.C.
Grover Nevells
Bar Harbor
Grover Nevells passed away on June 18, 2025, in Hanover, Pa. He was the son of Katherine Gross Nevells and Ira Luther Nevells and was born in his grandmother’s house in Oceanville in Stonington, Maine, Dec. 21, 1941.
At an early age he was being sent to the shore to dig for clams for an evening’s supper, and by the time he was twelve years old, he was fishing in a dinghy in Stonington Harbor with his younger sister, Deborah, as second mate.
His family moved to Providence, R.I., when he was fifteen years old and where he attended high school and met his future wife, Sarah (known as Sally.)
He served in the U.S. Navy as a communications technician but was landlocked for most of his time in the Navy at Fort George G. Meade in Maryland. After leaving the service, he was a CT and then a programmer for the National Security Administration and subsequently at the Social Security Headquarters in Woodlawn, Md. He also was a Boy Scout leader, a black powder gun enthusiast, a Baltimore Rambler Motorcycle club member, a snowplow driver, a transporter of kayaks for Glen Tucker’s “Coastal Kayaks,” a bus driver for Island Explorer, and a volunteer for Island Connections. His family will remember him particularly for his joy in retelling the same stories at every opportunity he had.
He was loved by his wife of 61 years, Sarah (Sally) Nevells, of Hanover, Pa.,; his sister, Deborah Rupprecht and husband, Peter, of Alabama and niece, Kathy, of Virginia; cousin, Sherrel Heanssler of Belfast, Maine, daughters Rebecca Nevells and Elizabeth Nevells of Hanover, Pa.; sons Daniel Nevells of Hanover, Pa., and David Nevells and wife, Jackie, of Berthoud, Colo.; son-in-law, Gary Salisbury of Sebring, Fla.; sister-in-law, Priscilla Henry and husband, John, of Annapolis, Md. He also leaves eight grandchildren: Stefani, Joseph, Jennifer, Steven, Seth, Taylor, Jonah, and Samuel; and four great-grandchildren and many friends. Grover was predeceased by his parents, by his cherished son, Christopher, and by son-in-law, Michael Sutherland.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Island Connections of Bar Harbor, Maine, or Habitat for Humanity.
Deborah Lucas Williams
Manset and Hawai’i
This obituary was written by Deborah’s husband, John Williams, with input from Debbie’s three daughters and grandchildren. It appeared in the Mount Desert Islander.
It is with deep sadness and regret that I share the news of the passing of Deborah Lucas Williams. Deborah passed away peacefully at her home in Kailua, her beloved Hawai’i, on Feb. 22, 2025, at the age of 85. She was surrounded by her husband of 63 years, Jock Williams, their daughters Barbara Williams, Elizabeth Cooperrider and Whitney Granholm, and her devoted caregivers.
There will be a service at the Somesville Meeting House on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 11 a.m. There will be a reception at the Williamses’ home, 1074 Main St., Somesville, after the church service. Please come and join us.
Deborah was born to Barbara Leavitt Lucas and Charles W. Lucas in Hawai’i. Deborah’s Hawaiian roots run deep. Her grandmother, Mona Hind Holmes of the Queen’s Surf Mansion, and her ancestors trace back to ali’i (Hawaiian royalty), including ties to the Parker Ranch on the Big Island and Niu Valley on Oahu. Deborah was predeceased by her brother David Lucas and his wife, who lived in Mililani, Hawai’i. Today, her Hawaiian relatives serve as cultural leaders for the Ka‘iwakïloumoku Hawaiian Cultural Center and the Polynesian Voyaging Society.
After Deborah’s parents ended their eight-year marriage, Barbara, Debbie, and David (Debbie’s brother) moved to Somesville, Maine, to rebuild their lives. Barbara took an important position at the law firm Hale and Hamlin in Ellsworth. Although they originally planned to stay only briefly before moving to a more urban area, Somesville became their permanent home.
Debbie attended local schools until tenth grade, then boarded at Northfield Mount Hermon, where she earned above-average grades despite initial unhappiness. She entered Colby College in 1957, majoring in English literature. Between her sophomore and junior years, she studied French culture at the Sorbonne in Paris before returning to graduate in June 1962. Afterward, Debbie attended Radcliffe Secretarial School, preparing for a writing career. During the tense Cuban Missile Crisis, with the draft board enlisting men, Jock joined the Navy OCS program, and they married on Sept. 22, 1962, in Somesville.
Their first duty station was San Francisco, where Jock attended Damage Control School and Debbie worked as a secretary. After eight months, Jock deployed to WEST-PAC on a fleet tug charting the Vietnamese coastline. During their year apart, Debbie had their first child, Elizabeth “Lili” Morris Williams.
Next, Jock became sailing officer at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, and they lived nearby at Ferry Farms. While pregnant with their second child, Barbara, born Oct. 18, 1966, Debbie managed the household with joy, especially enjoying cooking for festive occasions. Annapolis was a welcome change from the South China Sea and Navy grub. While we were there, Deb and I toured a nuclear submarine that was in port for the John F. Kennedy Sailing Regatta, also known as the Kennedy Cup. The sub is indeed a different world. It is very tight and compact. A short visit near an open hatch was enough for my old gal!
After finishing our Navy service in December 1965, we spent Christmas in New Jersey before heading to Denmark for my boatbuilding apprenticeship. Deb quickly organized the trip and got us on our way. Despite freezing conditions and housing challenges, she adapted brilliantly — learning the language, cooking Danish meals, and making local friends.
A year passed quickly, and before we knew it, we were back in Maine, reunited with Deb’s mother and her new stepfather, Carlo Ninfi. We bought a small summer cottage in Manset, winterized it, and spent the next 30 years there raising our three children. In that little house with one bathroom, a tub, and a sit-down shower, Deb stayed busy caring for the kids and volunteering with a counseling program for high school girls, a role she loved and excelled at. She worked with a counseling group in Ellsworth and also volunteered in the emergency room at the Ellsworth Hospital.
Deb’s love of language — its spelling, pronunciation, and precise use — led her to become copy editor at the Bar Harbor Times in 1978. Despite limited career opportunities for women in Eastern Maine at the time, she embraced the job wholeheartedly, ensuring every word in the paper was accurate and meaningful. Organized, intelligent, and a bit reserved, Deb was deeply loyal to her close friends but not one to seek a wide circle. She had a sharp, often sarcastic sense of humor that kept those close to her laughing.
Debbie was an avid reader, one of her greatest joys in life. She often had several books going at once and filled multiple rooms in our home with her collection. She enjoyed beautiful things and had an eye as a decorator. She made our home in Somesville a sanctuary filled with color.
She enjoyed a full life, welcoming ten grandchildren into the world and splitting her time between Lanikai, Hawai’i and Maine. With her trusted captain, she traveled up and down the East Coast and beyond aboard the Hokulani, navigating pea soup fog, heavy seas, and Canadian locks. She was a real trooper, and through it all, the love and devotion between Debbie and Jock was undeniable.