Hodgdon - Our beloved, Winifred Carolyn Crocker Boutilier, 96, passed away on the evening of Monday, December 12, 2022, at Houlton Regional Hospital with a granddaughter, Elizabeth, by her side. Winn (Winnie) was born on January 1, 1926, to Marshall Roy Budrow and Mildred Pauline Wharton. Winn was born in New Brunswick and was very proud of her Canadian heritage. She loved going to Canada to visit family members. Family was so very important to her. Her mother passed away when she was nine and she later moved to Maine to live with her Aunt Elva. She attended Ricker Classical Institute. After high school she attended Rings School of Nursing in Beverly, Massachusetts. At some point she became a naturalized citizen of the United States. In 1951 she married Dr. Rex Crocker and went on to have three children, Raelene, Simone, and Rex. Dr. Crocker’s medical practice was in Danforth, and she stood by his side as his nurse. She loved helping people and loved the nursing profession. She was very involved with assisting him and helped deliver many babies in the area. Even after his death in 1965 she continued to serve the community and even helped to deliver another baby. Winn was not afraid of work. After finding herself a widow at the age of 39 with three children to raise she embraced the challenges ahead with courage. She was never one to complain or give up. In 1963 she and her beloved sister, Leatha, started the Danforth Nursing Home with one resident. That number soon grew, and she always considered the residents as family. She loved each one of them and that was evident in the care she provided for them. In the mid 70’s she sold the nursing home and moved to Freeport and took a job at Merry Meeting House, a rehab center for recovering alcoholics. Once again, her goal was to help others. Her next accomplishment was to become administrator of Plant Memorial Home in Bath, Maine until she retired in1987. She was very proud of that position. On her birthday in 1988 she married Frederick Boutilier and moved to Winthrop. She enjoyed her retirement and was finally able to enjoy being in nature. Her favorite things to do were hunting and fishing and she passed that love on to some of her grandchildren. She was an accomplished marksman and was proud of the success she had while hunting. Even at the age of 96 she wanted to go on hunting and fishing trips. She had a great sense of humor and loved to dress up and act silly. On the day of her passing the Dr. leaned over her bed and asked if there was anything he could get for her. She thought for a second and replied,” Well, maybe a new pair of shoes.” When her children were young, she would dress up like Santa at Christmastime and visit their classrooms. She also loved dressing up at Halloween. Once she dressed up as a hobo and walked around town stirring things up. She was a great cook and made the best banana bread. Even though she shared her recipe no one could ever make it like her. She was a woman of faith and set an example for all her children and grandchildren. She had a testimony of Jesus Christ and the power of prayer. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many callings. Winn had a deep love for the people of Danforth and the surrounding towns. She wanted to attend every funeral for those people that she cared so deeply about, even in her advanced age and failing health. She was a very independent lady and always put others before herself. She was predeceased by her husbands and parents, her sister Leatha, and brothers John and Gerald. She is survived by her daughter Raelene (Daniel) Page, Simone (Charles) Carter, and Rex (Tina) Crocker. She will be greatly missed by her 12 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. She touched the lives of so many people and will never, ever be forgotten. She was not a good woman; she was a GREAT woman.
Friends are invited to visit with the family 6-8 PM Tuesday, December 20 at the Lamson Funeral Home, Danforth Chapel, 24 Houlton Road, Danforth, where funeral services will be held 2 PM Wednesday, December 21. Spring interment will be at the Hilltop Cemetery in Danforth. Messages of condolence may be expressed at Winn’s Book of Memories at www.lamsonfh.com.