Portage Lake--- Eugenia Mae (Sutherland) Pelletier Gardner, 92, passed away Monday, November 28, 2022, at a Presque Isle hospital, after a period of declining health. She was born March 26, 1930 in Woodland, the eighth of twelve children born to Adelbert and Marie (Hardacker) Sutherland.

Jean graduated from Caribou High School and then worked at the former Aroostook Trust Company, Caribou. In subsequent years she worked as a gatekeep for Pinkham Lumber Co., Ashland, for many years. Jean was a lifelong member of Gray Memorial United Methodist Church, Caribou, and in recent years attended Union Congregational Church, Ashland.

She is survived by her precious daughter, Sheila Dawn Pelletier of Caribou; two brothers, Willis Sutherland of Caribou and Russell Sutherland of Florida; two sisters, Bertha "Betty" Branscom of Caribou and Judi Greenier (Louis) of Cross Lake; a sister-in-law, Marina Sutherland of Connecticut; and Jean will also be missed by 28 nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, Jean was predeceased by her first husband, Robert Pelletier in 1975, her second husband, Elden Gardner in 2020, a son, Douglas R. Pelletier, seven siblings, Hayden Sutherland, Gretchen Gallant, Margaret Turner, Roland Sutherland, Stanley Sutherland, Marjorie Giggie, and Esther Page, a brother-in-law, Edward Branscom, a sister-in-law, Gloria Sutherland, two nephews and a niece.

A graveside service will be celebrated at 1 PM on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, at Evergreen Cemetery, Main Street, Caribou. Arrangements are a service of Lajoie Funeral Home, 114 Exchange St./PO Box 39, Ashland. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jean's name may be made to: Marie Sutherland Memorial Fund, c/o Gray Mem. United Methodist Church, PO Box 69, Caribou, ME 04736. To share condolences online, please visit www.LajoieFuneralHome.com