- Harold Thomas Butts of Portland, ME, arrived December 31st, 1929 and departed April 8th, 2020 after experiencing 90 full years of life and love here on Earth.
As the youngest of 17 siblings, Harold was introduced early to a life abundant in family, providing a framework for his entire life. His early years were spent in respect of his father, mutual adoration of his mother, and under the influence of his brothers and sisters. His big, genuine smile quickly became a trademark of his personality, an outward expression announcing his authentic good will toward anyone he met.
With a natural charisma that made every room better, as a young man, Harold sang and played guitar at local night spots, covering songs and performing originals for his own country western musical act with the stage name, “Smilin’ Hal.” Later, he became a reputable stage magician, performing locally for many years. Harold enjoyed hunting, boxing, and haggling vendors at flea markets for sport. He worked delivering oil for Randall McCallister, owned his own paving company, and yard-scaping service. He loved Tony’s Donuts, Italian sandwiches, and boiled dinners. He took pride in his work and enjoyed gardening, most evident in the impeccable maintenance, care, and appearance of his longtime land and home on Hobart St. in South Portland.
His yard was equipped with a hand built white-picket fence that still stands, green houses stocked with an ever-changing variety of flowers, and even a small bridge, built over excess pavement from his hot-topping business that he filled with water, stocked with goldfish and called a ‘pond.’ His beautifully kept flowerbeds and expertly mowed grass were complimented by a changing menagerie of characters, most notably, a life-size mannequin ‘horse of many colors’ that was once said to be held together ‘only by its many layers of paint.’ Every October, Harold’s yard on Hobart would transform, becoming a sanctum of Halloween décor, including a small army of unique, handmade, life-sized scarecrows that would set the stage for daring locals to traverse at night, only to be scared witless by The Pumpkin Man, Harold Butts and his sons. This tradition, as most traditions in Harold’s life went, was a family affair.
Harold married the love of his life, Lorraine Creamer of Waldoboro, on January 10th, 1959. Together on Hobart St., they raised 6 children of their own. Their first son, and Harold’s namesake, Harold Jr., was followed by Victor, Cindy, Sonny, Crystal, and Stephen. Their home was a bustling nest of love, laughter, imagination, competition, adventure, drama, and growth. Later, Harold’s children would bless him with spouses that he always welcomed cordially as family, and over two dozen grandchildren, with their spouses, and great-grandchildren, all of whom he admired, loved unconditionally, and spoiled excessively. An ever-growing accumulation of family also created an expanding caravan of cars for his annual ‘family road trips’ to far away and often obscure places. His house was always full and loud on holidays, including his favorite of the year, Father’s Day, for which he would wake up early to cook for all of his eventual guests who would arrive to shower him with compliments, hugs, and scratch tickets.
Harold lived a happy, full life and enjoyed as much of it as anyone could possibly hope to. He loved passionately and deeply, lived with adventure and curiosity, and sapped each day for what he could. Harold loved being with his brothers and sisters and he got to spend 61 years married to the love of his life, raising children and grandchildren. He lived a bountiful, generous, and humble life, a true man of Maine and representative of Portland, his home for 90 years. He will rest finally at his family lot, located at Forest City Cemetery in Portland, Maine.
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