Bar Harbor and Northeast Harbor, Maine - Karen E. Coombs, 82, died peacefully December 2, 2025, at a Bar Harbor retirement facility. She was born December 1, 1943, in Winchester, MA, the daughter of Wendell L. and Leta E. (Joy) Esterberg.

Karen graduated from Ellsworth High School, class of 1961 and settled in Northeast Harbor in the winters and Trenton in the summers (lovingly known as Bayside). Karen was married to the love of her life for 52 years, Ernest S. Coombs, and retired from The Jackson Laboratory.

Karen is survived by her sister, Gail Royal of Southwest Harbor; children, Michael (Lynette) Gordon of Cape Elizabeth, Tracy Gordon (Hank Vachon) of Hudson, NH, Bill (Minh) Gordon of Gray, Steven E. Coombs (Randi Closson) of Trenton, Cindy (Ed) Luiz of Jewett City, CT, Robert (Donna) Coombs of Griswold, CT, Sandra (Fish) Fish of Lisbon, CT, David (Kim) Coombs of Kingsport, TN, and Lynn (Ray) Flegert of Lebanon, CT; 15 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and extended family. She was predeceased by her husband, Ernest S. Coombs; and sister, Joy Esterberg.

A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mt. Desert. Reception to follow at 2:30 p.m. at Side Street Cafe, 49 Rodick St., Bar Harbor. Condolences may be expressed at jordanfernald.com.