Claire Mary Boutotte, 81
Was longtime Ashby resident; had a love of painting

ASHBY - Claire Mary Boutotte, 81, of 210 Scott Road, died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2007, in The Highlands. She is peacefully reunited with her husband of 60 years, the love of her life, Raymond Boutotte, who passed away in 2005.

She was born on Aug. 24, 1925, in Fitchburg, the daughter of James Arthur and Marie Alma (Morand) McCollum. She lived in Ashby for the past 60 years.

Mrs. Boutotte was a seamstress for Totsy Manufacturing for many years. She was also a dispatcher for the Ashby Police Department and Ashby Fire Department.

She had a love of painting and was especially talented at landscapes. Mrs. Boutotte also enjoyed painting wooden crafts that her husband handmade. She had a knack for jigsaw puzzles and crossword puzzles. She loved playing cards with her children and grandchildren and she taught them many games. Mrs. Boutotte had a gift for sewing and even made her grandchildren many outfits when they were little. She walked daily through her apple orchards and woods with her husband, Ray, and her dog, Chubby. She made a special point of feeding the many goldfish in her ponds every day. She also spent many hours gardening with her husband and was known for her crops of delicious tomatoes.

Mrs. Boutotte leaves her three sons, Raymond L. and his wife, Janice, of Pepperell, Rene and his wife, Sandy, of Ashby, and Barry and his wife, Ellie, of Ashby; her two daughters, Nancy Ouellete and her husband, Bruce, of Ashby, and June Craigen and her husband, Steve, of Ashby; her nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She also leaves her brother, Lester P. McCollum of Fitchburg, and sister, Elaine R. Bernard of Westminster. She is predeceased by her husband, Raymond A. Boutotte, three brothers, Roy A. of Arizona, Harold E. and James A. McCollum of Fitchburg, and five sisters, Mildred A. Bilodeau of Green Valley, Arizona, Rita McCollum of Hyannis, Gladys E. Plourde of Fitchburg, Loiuse E. Dufort of Leominster, and recently Dorothy E. Poudrier of Ashby.

Aubuchon-Moorcroft Funeral Home directed arrangements.