William Winsor “Butch” Graves Obituary (1938 - 2025)

William Winsor “Butch” Graves, aged 87, of the picturesque Spruce Ledge in Temple, Maine, peacefully departed this world on May 11, 2025. Butch was an only child, born on April 21, 1938, to the punctilious Ida Warr and the compassionate Gilbert Graves in Weston, Massachusetts. After completing his high school education at Brown & Nichols in 1956, he received a degree in education at Springfield College. Upon graduation, he embarked on his educational journey at North Yarmouth Academy in Yarmouth, Maine, where he dedicated 23 years of his life, ultimately rising to the esteemed position of Head of the Science Department before retiring in 1983. Butch was a true lover of nature, wholeheartedly embracing his father's and grandfather's dream of living an authentic life on their cherished family property at Spruce Ledge on Day Mt. Rd, in Temple, Maine. He reveled in the tranquility and unspoiled beauty of Day Mountain, crafting his dream home on the land that meant so much to him. With great pride, he embraced an off-grid lifestyle alongside his beloved wife, Iva, whom he married in 1990. Together, they cultivated a serene and self-sufficient existence, raising sheep, cultivating crops, tending to gardens, and caring for fruit trees. Their days were filled with the satisfaction of canning food and reveling in the bounty of the land they adored. After retiring from teaching, Butch rediscovered his passion as a mechanic, particularly with chainsaws. His remarkable talent and unwavering dedication to fixing and repairing these powerful machines earned him a reputation as a skilled chainsaw mechanic throughout the community. Butch leaves behind his devoted wife, Iva, and his son Gilbert Lincoln Graves, along with his wife Laura of Madison, NH, and daughter Susan Graves Teare and her husband Tom of Essex Junction, VT. He is also survived by stepchildren and a multitude of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, each carrying a piece of his legacy. In honor of Butch’s enduring love for his many Britney dogs, whose joyful spirits brightened his days, the family kindly requests that any donations be made to the Britney Rescue Foundation. A private celebration of life will be held for family members. Arrangements are under the care of Dan and Scott's Cremation and Funeral Service, 488 Farmington Falls Road, Farmington, Maine, where memories, photos and condolences may be shared at dsfuneral.com.