Anne Porter Butler passed onwards to the Lord in the evening of Aug. 23, 2026. Anne was blessed to have her loving and grateful family and devoted care givers with her in her home.

She is survived by her loving husband of 74 years, Bill Butler and five children: daughter Deborah and Michael Faus of Southport, North Carolina; GD Hillary and Keith Pricket G-GDs Charlotte and Violet of Christiana, Pennsylvania; GD Heidi and Thaddeus Cebula G-GC Aiden and Lilian of York, Pennsylvania; GD Heidi and Chris Morschl; G-GD Ariana and Mila Rose of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; son Richard Butler of Biddeford, Maine and GS Lucas Butler of Portland, Maine and G-GC Garrett and Julia; GS William Edward Butler of Brunswick, Maine; son, William Gregory and Patricia Butler of Carlisle, Pennsylvania; son, Steven Shackford Butler of Boothbay Harbor; GD Sarah and Kyle Strangarity and G-GS Cole of Annville, Pennsylvania; Kristen and Chelsea Butler of Palmyra, Pennsylvania; and Steven Gregory Butler of Duncannon, Pennsylvania; and son David Butler and Natalie Wheeler of Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

Anne was born Jan. 7, 1931 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, daughter of the late Louise Fronfield Porter of Media, Pennsylvania and the late Edward Arthur Gribbon Porter Esq. of Lisburn, Northern Ireland and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Anne attended the progressive School in Rose Valley and later Swathmore High School and Goucher College.  Anne from an early age on her parents’ farm in Media, Pennsylvania developed a deep love and respect for all creatures great and small. She loved tending chickens, feeding a struggling calf, and had a great love for her horse, Lucky Seven, which she rode often in the neighboring countryside. She spent her summers during World War II in Rangeley, Maine at her grandfather’s camp on Dodge Pond. Anne also attended and was a counselor at Camp Cloud March in Sheepscot, Maine.

Anne met her future husband, William Shackford Butler of Waterville, Maine while she attended Goucher College where she earned a BS in psychology and Bill attended Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Bill and Anne were married in Nativity Catholic Church in Media, Pennsylvania on June 27, 1952. 1952 was a busy year as Bill and Anne graduated, Bill joined the Navy and later attended Officer Candidate School in Newport and was commissioned. At the start of 1953, they welcomed their only and favorite daughter Deborah followed by four sons.

As her family grew, Bill and Anne settled in Media and would try to spend a month in Maine with their family in Boothbay Harbor and Pratt’s Island, Southport. Anne shared her love of nature with their children exploring the coastal forest, beaches and tidal flats of Pratt’s Island.  Anne even rowed her kids across the Sheepscot River to Five Islands for ice cream.

Anne was thrilled when summer vacations turned to residency when “Bill brought his bride home” in 1976 when they moved from Media to Boothbay Harbor after the passing of Bill’s mother, Mevrette Shackford Butler Goodrich. Anne immersed herself in the community which she treasured.

Anne was hostess at Tugboat Inn in the late 1970s where she quickly establishing herself as quite a character. Anne had once responded to an inquiry from a browsing visitor “Do you serve L’Escargot?” to which she responded “No sir, we do not serve snails.” Anne made many friends with her directness and dry wit, sometimes intentional and sometimes unintentional. She had an infectious laugh that had may customers at Hannaford calling out from aisles away, “Hi Anne.”

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Anne worked at Gimbel’s in the shipping department with her dear friend Ruthie Snowman who would call her “Boss Lady” to which Anne would say “Don’t call me that Ruthie and she would respond “O.K. Boss Lady” which would result in a handful of packing peanuts flying her way. Anne loved the many quirks of our community and always wanted to know what Miss Piggy was wearing today!

Anne adored this community and volunteered endlessly at the YMCA and Family Care Center bringing forth smiles and laughter upon arrival and departure.

Anne was a devout Episcopalian and loved All Saints by-the-Sea on Southport and long supported a four season church which was realized in the establishment of St. Columba’s in Boothbay Harbor.  she was very active in the early years when the Episcopal community said mass at the Klenk’s home in Sprucewold and later shared worship space with the Methodist community’s church in East Boothbay. 

Anne, an avid gardener and member of the Boothbay Region Garden Club was involved with the very early stages of the search for a site for the  Botanical Gardens. She loved volunteering at the Gardens in the early years and would reminisce about wandering through the woods and hillside of what was to become the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens with other members thinking would this be possible in our town. Our little town never failed to amaze her with what our community and visitors could achieve.

Anne and Bill loved the water and exploring coasts near and far on their sailboat and traveling overseas cruise ships. Anne was fortunate to have traveled with Bill through the Caribbean, The United Kingdom, Ireland the Mediterranean The Baltic and Russia and were longtime members of SYC and BHYC.

A Celebration of Life Mass will be held Saturday, Oct. 24 at St. Columba’s Episcopal Church on Emery Lane at 1 p.m. for family and friends.