Woodsville - Jean Martin Butson, 91, a long-time resident of Woodsville, passed away November 23, 2015 in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, surrounded by her children.   Jean was born on Prince Edward Island, Canada on May 31, 1924 to Lulu and Peter Martin. Jean was one of eleven children, and her brothers fondly referred to her as Molly. She lived and worked on the family's farm in Hunter River until emigrating to the United States in 1947.   Shortly after arriving in New Hampshire, Jean met C. Lincoln "Linc" Butson at a dance. The two realized quickly that they'd found "the one" and were married on November 8, 1947 in Penacook, NH. Jean and Linc moved to Woodsville, NH in 1949, where they operated Peoples Market, the flagship store of what later became Butson's Supermarkets. They lived above the market for a few years before moving to the house on Maple Street, where Linc and his family had grown up. She took pride in maintaining the house and landscaping to Grammy Butson's standards.   Located just down Maple Street was the Woodville Methodist Church where Jean taught nursery school for a few years. She developed a close relationship with the church and met many people who became very dear friends, especially her fellow members of the Methodist Girls Club. Jean was also a volunteer with 4-H, a member of the Woodsville Lioness Club, and a member of the Order of Eastern Star.   Jean and Linc belonged to the New Hampshire Retail Grocers Association. Through the Association they developed many lifelong friends with whom they were able to travel throughout the United States and the rest of the world. Jean always looked forward to planning her trips, whether it was a day trip to Maine or a journey to a foreign country. She especially enjoyed a trip with her family to Scotland to explore her Scottish ancestry.   Until her mid-eighties, Jean could be seen walking the streets of Woodsville with a quick gait that belied her rather short legs. She liked to tell her friends in Florida that she was walking from New Hampshire to Vermont every day.   Jean is remembered with love by her sons, Charles P. Butson and his wife Michele, Donald Butson and his wife Mary Ann, and Alan Butson; her daughter, Shirley Fox and her husband Don; her siblings, Shirley Lindstrom and Harold Martin; her grandchildren, Eva Rosko, Mandy Butson, Christine Butson, Joshua L. Butson, Charles L. Butson, Benjamin Fox, Lucas Fox, Amy Bigelow, and Brandon Butson. Jean is also survived by eight great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Jean was predeceased by her beloved husband of 42 years, C. Lincoln Butson, and her siblings Velma Ross, Arnold Martin, Lloyd Martin, Louis Martin, Marie Holbrook, Phyllis Waugh, Verna Costa, and Helen Labonte.

Funeral services will be held at the Woodsville Methodist Church on Saturday November 28, 2015 at 11:00 AM. A reception at the Happy Hour Restaurant will immediately follow the service. Her family will hold a private burial service at a later time. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Woodsville United Methodist Church, 9 Maple Street, Woodsville, NH 03785 or the Horse Meadow Senior Center, 91 Horsemeadow Road, North Haverhill, NH 03774.