Francis Robert Butler

Francis R. Butler, 95, of 8 Gove Street, Died Friday, December 3, 2004 at Goodall Hospital in Sanford following a brief illness. He was born in Sanford October 6, 1909, the son of Harvey and Etta (Holmes) Butler, and lived here all his life.He was a graduate of Sanford High School. Following school he worked shearing and carding at the former Goodall-Sanford textile mills. He also worked in the woods, cutting and hauling timber. Francis eventually began working as a carpenter and worked out of the carpenter union #921 in Portsmouth, NH. Jobs took him to Fort Devens, Seabrook Dog Track, the former W. T. Grant store in Sanford and he built the cabinets in the Willard School here. He worked on many commercial building projects in Maine and New Hampshire, and he was proud to have worked on the Liberty Ships built in S. Portland during WWII.He was a long time member of Preble Masonic Lodge, AF & AM in Sanford. He was a 64 year member of Bauneg Beg Grange and he was a member and former officer of the Bauneg Beg Lake Association. He and his late wife and father-in-law built his camp and dock on Bauneg Beg where he enjoyed more than 40 summers. He loved boats and motors and built his own boat to use on the lake. He was a pretty good mechanic, too, and used to fix his daughters cars as well as his own. Years ago he loved to dance and he and his late wife used to go dancing at the old pier at Old Orchard Beach on Saturday nights.Over his lifetime he had many dogs. He loved to walk them on Main Street where he was a familiar sight.He was predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Edith (Solloway) Butler in 2003.He is survived by two sons: Bruce F. Butler of Poland, Me and Robert H. Butler of Sanford; two daughters, Brenda A. Butler of Portland and Beverly J. Butler of Augusta, and a sister, Addie Cobbett, of Sanford. He also leaves grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.Family and friends are invited to call at the Heald Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale at noon on Monday, December 6, 2004. A funeral will be held at 1:00 pm with the Rev. David McGuire of Lebanon, officiating. Interment will follow in Oakdale Cemetery, Sanford.Should friends desire, memorial contributions in Mr. Butler's name may be made to Waban Projects, 5 Dunaway Drive, Sanford, ME 04073