Frederick Butts Jr.

Frederick Butts Jr., 72 PORTLAND -- Frederick Butts Jr., 72, passed away peacefully during the afternoon of March 1, 2009, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House with his wife Evelyn and their children holding him closely. Frederick Jr. was born in Portland, the proud and adventurous son of Frederick Butts Sr. and Marie (Landry) Butts. Frederick attended St. Patrick's Catholic School, and went on to graduate from Cheverus High School in 1955. He joined the U.S. Marines shortly after to serve his country and see the world. It was here in his two years with the Marines that he cultivated his first passion in life, Boxing. Freddie was never one to fight much out of the ring, but he carried a deep passion for boxing through many years, peaking with a North East Welter Weight Championship title around 1962. During his rising career as a fighter, Freddie met what would become his life partner and soul mate, Evelyn Ricci, a daughter of James and Julia Ricci. It was this junction that sparked Freddie's truest passion in his life, his family. He married Evelyn in August of 1963 in a ceremony filled with love and laughter. In December of 1964, Freddie and Evie started their family with their daughter Julia, followed by Frederick III and Mary Ann. Freddie and his surviving wife Evie, lived their lives with the tender and complete devotion of love to one another and their children. Before he married Evie, he started what would be a 22-year career working for the Portland Fire Department, protecting the citizens of Portland. Here he made lifelong friendships with many of his fellow firefighters and police officers as well. He enjoyed the camaraderie and endless opportunities to pull practical jokes on his co-workers, as well as being deeply involved in all the department sporting teams. Near the end of his career, he was elected to the position of Fire Department Union President with the aspirations of making the work environment and benefits better and safer for the men serving the safety of Portland. Freddie concurrently worked another full time job at St. Johnsbury Trucking Company so that his wife Evie could be home to love and raise their three children. Often at the total dismay of all that knew him, Freddie would cram over 80 hours of work into his week, so that he could give his wife and children the life he wanted for them. In spite of these arduous work hours he somehow managed to always be there when needed as a husband or a father. He loved late nights of dancing with his wife Evie and their friends, and playing with his children during every spare moment he was had. For many people, working like this would have seemed unfair, but for Freddie the opportunity to selflessly give to his family filled his heart with more love then anything in the world. For Freddie, Frederick Butts Jr. his whole world revolved around his family. In Freddie's later years he and the rest of the family were blessed with the addition of the first grandchild in the family. In January 2001 Freddie's daughter Mary Ann gave birth to Ella Julia Butts. Ella fast became the light in Freddie's and the whole family's eyes. Ella has brought the whole family so much happiness and laughter as only a child can. She will continue to carry her Papa's spirit long into the future of the Butts family name. Freddie Butts led his life with the most admirable set of principles, and spent so much of his life trying to put a smile on the faces of those he loved and cared about. He left a mark of sincerity and compassion on all that he encountered. He is the life's hero of his family and is now their protector from above. Freddie was predeceased by his brother Mossy and wife Vicky. He is survived by his sisters Dotty Connolly and husband Ed, Jeanette Holmes, and his brothers Gerry and wife Nancy, Tommy and wife Lisa, and Johnny and wife Donna. All the Butts children grew up in the Libby Town area of Portland, and shared in the love and growth of Freddie and his family throughout his life. Freddie would want to make sure special mention was given to the family of Evelyn (Ricci) Butts whom he shared so much of his life and love with. He was especially grateful to Marry Ricci for her never ending care of him and his family throughout his life, as well as Evie's other siblings, James Ricci, Dolores Sylvester, Patrick Ricci, Helen Guimond, preceded by Ann Guimond and Ursula Carson. Our family would like to extend our deepest thanks and appreciation to all the staff at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House. They provided us with the most precious and tender experience we could have ever wished for in the passing of our father. A visitation will be held from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Friday, March 6, at Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress St., Portland. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ctcrawford.com. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Gosnell Memorial Hospice House 11 Hunnewell Rd. Scarborough, Maine 04074 or The Salvation Army Portland 297 Cumberland Ave. Portland, Maine 04101