Lawrence "Lawrie" W. Butler

Born to the late Francis Butler and Mary “Dot” (Morrissey) Butler, on March 23, 1938, in Boston, Lawrie grew up in Revere and graduated from St. Mary’s High School, Lynn, where he excelled in academics and baseball. He attended the Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA), graduating in 1958 with a degree in mechanical engineering.

A standout pitcher on the baseball diamond, and twice named to the Upper Cape League All Star team in 1957 and ’58, he recorded a 6-2 record in 1957, leading MMA to the Upper Cape League championship. He was inducted into the MMA Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Cape Cod Baseball League Bourne Braves Hall of Fame in 2005. An avid Bourne Braves fan in retirement, Lawrie was a fixture in his seat behind home plate at Doran Park.

Upon graduating from MMA, Lawrie married his high school sweetheart and wife of 65+ years, Janice (Finlay) Butler. Commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy, he and Janice travelled the world with their children during his seagoing naval service (USS General George M. Randall and USS Canberra) and service as a Special Agent with the Office of Naval Intelligence and Naval Investigative Service (now Naval Criminal Investigative Service, NCIS), with assignments in Boston; Florida; Virginia; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; North Carolina; Rhode Island; California; and Bermuda.

Lawrie, known as “Joebud” to family, is survived by sister, Dorothy Bouchard, and predeceased by his brother, Captain Frank Butler, U.S. Merchant Marine. He is predeceased by son, Matthew David, and survived by four children: Dan and spouse, Karen (Coyne) Butler of Wareham, MA; L. Matthew and spouse, Myra (Molano) Butler of Jacksonville, FL; Pamela and spouse, Thomas Reese of Green Cove Springs, FL; and Theresa and spouse, Norbert Deminne, of Hughesville, MD. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Police Officer John Butler, Hartford PD; Special Agent Katherine (Butler) Farrell and spouse, Special Agent Derek Farrell, both NCIS; Michael Gindler; CAPT Ryan Gindler, USAF, and spouse Kandez; Christen Gindler; Rachel Gindler; Kevin Deminne; Renée Deminne; and, three great-grandchildren: Kally, Kade and Ripley Gindler; and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in Lawrie’s memory to the Parkinson’s Foundation, the Massachusetts Maritime Academy Class of ’58 Seabag Scholarship Fund, or the Bourne Braves baseball team.

A visitation/wake will be held 4-7pm Monday, Oct. 30th, at Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home, 40 MacArthur Blvd., Bourne, MA. Funeral Mass will be 10am Tuesday, Oct. 31st, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 841 Shore Road, Pocasset, MA, followed immediately by Committal/Burial service at the National Cemetery adjacent to Joint Base Cape Cod/Otis Air National Guard Base.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.nickersonbourne.com for the Butler family.