

Donna was born on June 1, 1953, in Portland, Maine, the daughter of Louville Libby and Rita (Stanley) Libby. She graduated from Portland High School in 1972, then went on to study nursing. She worked as a claims service specialist at Acadia Insurance until she retired in 2020, and she was a member of St. Maximillian Church in Scarborough.
Donna married John Francis Butts on March 24, 1973, and their bond carried them through Donna’s illness. John’s unwavering devotion to her inspired one nurse to remark, “I hope I have someone who loves me like that when it’s my time.” She will forever be the apple of his eye.
Donna will be remembered as a caring and attentive mother who gave her children the freedom to pursue their own dreams without judgment. She supported them in every endeavor, spending countless hours every week ferrying them from dance and taekwondo classes, recitals, and competitions.
In her free time, Donna loved a good game, and she loved to laugh. Family game nights playing games like Train, Trivial Pursuit, or Jackbox were always filled with laughter. She especially relished beating her brothers in card games like canasta.
But there was nothing Donna loved more than Camp Kokatosi in Raymond. It was her happy place. She spent time there every summer for over 30 years, first with her brother Denny and his family, and then with friends who became family. She loved the lakeside chats, the campfire bonding, the late-night antics—all the best stories came from camp.
Donna is survived by four children, Angela Butts (Trevor George) and Amy Butts (Daryl Berry) of Westbrook and Alicia (Alexander Mitchell) and Devin (Jessica) Butts of Scarborough; five grandchildren, Jayden, Eleanora, and Julianna of Scarborough, and Zoey and Cooper of Westbrook; her brother, Larry Libby, of Portland; and many nieces and nephews near and far, all of whom she treasured. She was predeceased by her parents and four brothers, Ronnie, Dick, Denny, and Wayne.
A Celebration of Life will be held on the occasion of Donna and John’s 53rd wedding anniversary, Tuesday, March 24th, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., in the Ocean Star Banquet Room at Bruno’s Restaurant & Tavern, 33 Allen Ave., Portland, Maine.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes you to make a donation in Donna’s memory to the Dementia Society of America (www.dementiasociety.org) or the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org/).
DONACIONES
Alzheimer's Association225 N Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois 60601
Dementia Society of AmericaPO Box 600, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18901
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