Joanne Marie (McCoy) Small, 67, of Eliot, Maine, passed away on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Surrounded by love, she was set free from all her worries while bathed in the first morning rays of the sunrise.  She was finally free from all pain and was called home to her Lord.

Joanne was born on April 2, 1959, at Otis Air Force Base in Bourne, Massachusetts. Joanne grew up in Eliot, after a brief stay in So. Weymouth, Massachusetts.  In 1974 her father retired from 27 years' service in the US Air Force and he moved the family back to Valdosta, Georgia.   A 1977 graduate of Valdosta High School, Joanne went on to earn a business degree from Valdosta Vocational Technical School.

She began her 40-year professional career in banking with C&S Bank in Valdosta, Georgia. After returning to Maine, Joanne continued her work at Peoples Heritage Bank in Kittery, later transferring to the Eliot branch when it opened. Her career progressed through positions at Maine National Bank and TD Bank, where she rose to Branch Manager in Kittery. In her final years in banking, Joanne served as an Independent Mortgage Loan Officer with TD Bank. Throughout her career, she was deeply devoted to her customers in Kittery, Eliot, and York, treating all as friends and offering guidance with warmth and care on any question they had.

Joanne was an active member of her community. She belonged to the Kittery Rotary Club, served as Treasurer of the Southern Maine Fish & Game Club, and was dedicated and very involved in the Boy Scouts for over ten years, supporting both of her sons on their journeys.

She found great joy in cooking for her family gatherings, sewing, and quilting with her friends. She had a remarkable green thumb that created beauty all around and in her Eliot home. Her summers were spent at camp on Lower Mousam Lake with Steve, her best friend Donna, and her beloved Jack Russell terriers, Layla and Maggie Mae. These cherished days were often shared with her parents, sisters, sons, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and close friends. Every fall, Joanne loved spending time at the family cottage on Cape Cod with her "Sistas", Kathy, Rosemary, Donna, Trisha, and Linda, where laughter and lifelong memories were made.

Joanne was predeceased by her parents, Fred and Mary (Merten) McCoy of Valdosta, Georgia. She is survived by her sisters, Katherine (McCoy) Califf and Bill of Valdosta, Georgia; and Rosemary (McCoy) Wollerscheid and Steve of York, Maine. She also leaves behind her beloved sons, Christopher M. Small and Tayler, along with their children Emma, CJ, and Maverick; and Tyler M. Small and Lauren, along with their daughter Gabbie Rae. In addition to her boys, Joanne also leaves behind Steve Gagel of Gorham, Maine, her loving partner of over 22 years; his son Steve, and grandchildren, Paul and John. Joanne's grandchildren, Emma, CJ, Maverick, Gabbie Rae, Paul and John, were the light of her life and the reason she woke up every morning fighting to stay. Joanne had many nieces and nephews whom she also loved, and cherished spending time with all of them.

Joanne faced each day with a smile, meeting every setback with optimism and a determined spirit, always asking, "OK, what do we do next?" and "let's give it a try". She will be remembered for her wonderful smile, and hearty laugh.  No matter what was happening in her life, she met it with 100% positivity.

Honoring Joanne's wishes, a celebration of her life will be held as a traditional Irish Wake for family and friends on July 12, 2026, at her sister's home in York, Maine at 1pm. Details will be shared at a later date. Joanne would welcome all who considered themselves her friend to join in remembering her life with joy and laughter, and a little libation.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joanne's memory to the Maine Children's Cancer Fund, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or the American Cancer Society.