Laurie June Butler

North Yarmouth, Maine - Laurie Butler, 44, of North Yarmouth, died on September 25, 2011, with her loving family and friends by her side.

Laurie’s tenacious spirit helped her fight a long, courageous battle with breast cancer. Her tremendous strength helped her family and friends through her illness.

Laurie was born on August 15, 1967 in Brunswick, Maine to William Cockburn and Winnifred (Mosher) Merrill. Laurie grew up in Brunswick and graduated from Brunswick High School in 1985. From there, she went to Thomas College and graduated with an Associates Degree in Business Administration in 1987. Laurie put her warm, friendly personality to work at Women’s Fitness Studio and Dr. Blaine Littlefield’s in Brunswick, McTeague Higbee in Topsham and most recently, Rose Garden Preschool in North Yarmouth.

Laurie married her husband, Stephen Butler in October of 1997. She was a devoted, loving wife and mother to their two children, Nicholson (Nick) and Avery. Through their many activities, they met many wonderful and special friends, especially Rick, Lisa, Kate, Eric and Rachel Storey.

She shared her love for photography and crafts with her friends and family, and enjoyed creating collages for Nick’s baseball and football teammates. Laurie had a knack for capturing the moment. Many happy memories will be shared through her beautiful photographs.

Sports were a big part of Laurie’s life. She loved going to Nick’s games and watching Avery cheer on her older brother. She was an avid Red Sox fan, and passed that love onto her children. She inspired many by running 5k road races, even throughout her treatments, and most recently, participated in the 2011 Portland Sea Dogs Mother’s Day 5k with 23 of her fans. She also played softball for many years in the Brunswick area.

In addition to her husband Stephen and two children, Nick and Avery, Laurie is survived by a large, loving family, including:

Her father William Cockburn of Brunswick; her mother Winnifred Merrill of Harpswell;

her sister, Linda Cockburn and partner Walter Foster of Brunswick, and children Dylan Ouellette, Danielle Ouellette and Morgan Foster; her sister, Bonnie Emmertz and husband Andy and their children Brett and Colby of Falmouth; her sister, Brooke Cox and husband Stephen and their children Katelyn and Cameron of Bowdoinham; her brother David Cockburn and wife Terry and their children Heath and Blaine of Durham; her grandmother, Helen Mosher of South China; her in-laws Ed and Jeanne Butler of Camden; several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Polkinghorn of Mid Coast Hospital for his guidance and support during Laurie’s illness.

A time of visitation will be held on Thursday Sept 29, 2011 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Lindquist Funeral Home, One Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth, ME. A memorial service will be held on Friday Sept 30 at 10:00 AM at North Yarmouth Congregational Church, corner of Route 115 and 231, North Yarmouth. Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to view a video collage of Laurie’s life and to share your condolences, memories and tributes with her family.

For those who wish, donations may be made in Laurie’s name to:

Dean Snell Cancer Foundation

5 County Credit Union

PO Box 598

Bath, ME 04530