Mina E. Swanton Obituary (1926 - 2014)

Casco-ME-Mina E. Swanton (Butler), 87, born in Boothbay Harbor, ME, passed away February 5, 2014 surrounded by her family. Her vibrant personality, infectious laughter, love of talking with friends and family, reading and studying defined her life. Routine walking with her Lake Thompson friends, and attending Senior College (So. Maine University, Portland) were her mainstays. She celebrated her 85th birthday with family in one of her favorite locations, Bermuda. Following her 1944 graduation from Boothbay Harbor High School, she attended Bob Jones College (TN) and then transferred to Portia Law School (now New England Law, Boston). She began a career in social work after graduating from Portia law school in 1948, working with juveniles in Boston. She met Bart in Boston and tried to fix him up with her taller, dance and Jazz-loving friend, but he was smitten. She and Bart married 5/30/53 at Ocean Point, ME. Thus began a long almost 52 year union. Following the death of their infant son, Walter, Mina co-founded the Bath-Brunswick Mental Health Association providing counseling services to this mid-coast region. She continued her career as Director of Social Services at Symmes Hospital, Arlington, MA. Following Bart’s retirement and move to Casco, she worked at LLBean. She leaves her five children: Carrie Robinson (Joseph, II) of Paris, ME, Nancy Stobie (Jim) of Westford, MA, and Ruth of New Haven, CT, Charles (Deborah Uotila) of Juneau, AK, and Carl B., III (Paula) of Otisfield, ME; and grandchildren: John Robinson, Merilee Grubb (Michael), Megan and Lindsey Stobie, Augustus and Owen Swanton, and Katherine Harding; and great-grandchildren: Julianna and Joseph ‘Jack’ Robinson, and John ‘Joey’ Grubb; nieces and nephews and other family and friends (Boothbay Harbor, Cambridge, Lexington, Casco). All whom she knew and loved will carry her enormous spirit forward. Mina’s legacy and gift for community service included volunteering at Prebble Street Soup Kitchen, Camp Sunshine, and League of Women Voters among others. She was pre-deceased by her husband (Carl B. ‘Bart’, Jr.), her parents, Walter K. and Lottie Sidelinger Butler, two sisters, Beryl Torsen (Bill), and Gwen Brown (Carl), infant son, and dear grade school friend Gertrude Tibbetts. A special thanks to Nancy and Jim Stobie for taking such great care of Mina in their home during her last 2.5 years; Dr. Gerald Sweeney, MD; HomeInstead staff (Casco and Westford); and to the staff at Emerson Hospital for their expert assistance in allowing Mina to pass peacefully and in comfort. Visiting hours will be Saturday, May 3rd from 9-10:30AM at Stetson’s Funeral Home, 12 Federal St., Brunswick, where a funeral service will immediately follow at 10:30AM. Interment at Riverview Cemetery next to Bart and Walter following. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to one of Mina’s favorite charities: Prebble Street Soup Kitchen, Portland, ME; Maine Senior College (OLLI) Southern Maine University at Portland; Camp Sunshine, Casco, ME; Raymond Library (Biographies); Universalist Church, Norway, ME; and Methodist Church, Boothbay Harbor.