EAST ORLAND
Lesley (“Ellen”) Helen Moore passed away July 10 at Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor. She was 72. Ellen was born on Nov. 14, 1947, in Evanston, Ill., to Philip Wyatt Moore and Henrietta (“Henny”) Boal Moore, both now deceased.
Ellen was the youngest of five siblings. She is survived by two sisters and two brothers: Ayrie Moore, Chicago; Lucy Musawa Moore, Oregon; Phil Moore, Charlevoix, Mich.; and Tom Moore, Australia; as well as her eight beloved nieces and nephews, and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. She is also survived by her life partner of many years, Lucy Poulin, and adopted stepson, James Poulin. Also surviving are Geiser and Josue Tuctuc and their parents, Miguel and Gloria, who were like family.
Ellen graduated from Pitzger College in California in the late 1960s. She was a civil rights activist in Chicago. In the 1970s, she and her sister, Lucy Musawa Moore, founded a women’s land sanctuary in Oregon. In the 1980s, she settled in Maine. Ellen was a longtime leader, along with Lucy Poulin and others, in the St. Francis Community at Mandala Farm, East Orland. She managed farm operations and took care of a small herd of Norwegian Fjord horses, Kashmir goats and a variety of other animals (including peacocks!). She also worked in shelter, wrote grants, cooked community suppers every Thursday for years…and much, much more. She will surely be missed by all.
Ellen loved spending time with her family in Michigan throughout most of her life. She loved the animals and St. Francis. She loved and took a caring interest in all the members of the community.
For many years, Ellen and her sister, Ayrie, shared the care of their mother, Henny, in her long struggle with Alzheimer’s. Ayrie has said, “She worked hard, but she had fun. She was the most giving person I know.”
The memorial service is private due to COVID-19 restrictions. Memorial donations may be mailed to the not-for-profit St. Francis Community, P.O. Box 44, East Orland, ME 04431.