SPRUCE HEAD — Carolee L. Geel, 51, wife of Patrick W. Geel, died on Monday, November 4, 2019 at the Sussman House in Rockport following a valiant second battle with breast cancer. 

 

Born in Bangor on September 17, 1968, she was the daughter of Harley O. and Adra (Alley) Knowlton and was a 1987 graduate of Jonesport-Beals High School.  

 

She married her high school sweetheart, Patrick W. Geel, in 1988, and eventually settled in Spruce Head. 

 

Carolee received her bachelor’s degree in social work at the University of Maine at Augusta and spent the last 20 years as a social worker, most recently employed by Sweetser.

 

Carolee was an avid reader and enjoyed scrapbooking, puzzles, playing scrabble, Downton Abbey, anything Amish, camping, attending family sporting events, the annual Fourth of July family celebrations in Jonesport and at Gardner’s Lake and of course, cruising. 

 

She loved spending time with her family, including anyone who met her then became ‘family”.  Most importantly, she loved spending time with her grandsons.

 

A former member of the Rockland Rotary Club, she enjoyed trips to Sri Lanka after the tsunami and also to Mexico.

 

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the caregivers and volunteers at the Sussman House and to the team at Maine Health Care at Home.

 

Surviving is her husband, Patrick W. Geel of Spruce Head; her mother, Adra Knowlton, of Rockport; two daughters, Kristie Pitt and her husband, Stephen, of South Hope; Ashley Geel, of St. George; brothers Russell Grindle and his wife, Rita, of Blue Hill; Harley O. Knowlton III and his wife, Terri, of Rockport; Joshua Knowlton and companion Jackie, of Warren; sister, Kimberley Knowlton, of Rockport.; and her grandsons, Mason David Pitt and Gavin Patrick Pitt, ‘Meme’s Little Angels’! 

 

She is also survived by numerous extended family members including some very special nieces and nephews.  

 

She was predeceased by her father Harley Otis Knowlton, Jr., “Bampie”.

 

Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial gathering from 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, November 10, 2019 at the Rock Harbor Brewery Tap Room, 5 Payne Avenue, Rockland. 

 

Memorial gifts may be made to the Sussman House, 40 Anchor Drive, Rockport, ME 04856 or to the Bob Gagnon Cancer Fund.

 

Condolences may be shared with the family at longfuneralhomecamden.com.  Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Camden.