Kathleen M. Butts (“Kathy”) – age 71, beloved wife of Alan J. Butts, died unexpectedly Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at the York Hospital in York, Maine.
She was born in Boston on September 26, 1954, a daughter of the late John and Joan (Donovan) Colburn and was raised in Stoneham, MA. She spent twenty years in Billerica before heading north to Wells, Maine in 2013, where she happily traded busy town life for the fresh coastal air.
Kathy had a strong work ethic and a knack for connecting with people wherever she went. She worked for many years as a Bakery Manager at Star Market. Later, she proudly owned and operated Bare Bottom Tanning Salon and Amani’s Hair and Tanning Exchange in Tewksbury, MA. Along the way she also worked at Lake Manufacturing in Newburyport and at the Cliff House in Maine, proving she could fit in just about anywhere—from factory floors to seaside views.
Besides her husband, Kathy is survived by her dog Brandy, her children, Amani Sylvester and her husband Steve of Nashua, NH, Jassim Taher and his wife Sharon of Litchfield, NH and Robert Butts and his partner Kristina of Tewksbury, and; her sisters, Patricia Fleuckiger and her husband Kenny of Needham and Carol Ayala and her partner John Scanlon of Manchester, NH. Kathy is also survived by her five cherished granddaughters Natalie, Naomi, Nadia, Mila and Sofia and her first grandson Brady, whom she was eagerly awaiting and so excited to meet. She was pre-deceased by her two younger brothers John and Paul Colburn.
Kathy had a deep appreciation for life’s simple joys. She loved tending to her flowers and garden, watching hummingbirds flutter nearby, and savoring scallops with a good glass of wine. She also enjoyed doing puzzles and in her earlier years spent many quiet hours reading. The beach held a special place in her heart, where she found peace sitting by the ocean and listening to the calming rhythm of the waves.
She will be deeply missed and forever remembered with love.
Like the oceans tide, love never ends – it simply moves beyond the horizon. May the sound of the waves carry our love to her wherever she now rests.
Visiting hours will be held Saturday, March 14 at the Sweeney Memorial Funeral Home, 66 Concord Rd., Billerica from 2-5 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made in Kathy’s name to the American Heart Association.
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Visitation
14
Mar
66 Concord Road
Billerica, MA 01821
