Eleanor (Ellie) Ruth Smith Butler, 99, passed away peacefully on November 21, 2025, with her family by her side.

Born in Exeter, New Hampshire, Ellie was raised in Brentwood on the family's Maplecroft Farm, where she was the seventh generation of the Smith family to call it home. Her father, Norman, was a dairy farmer, and her mother, Ruth, was a teacher. As the eldest of three children, Ellie grew into a young woman known for her strong work ethic, her love of learning, and her natural gift for gardening.

Her passion for education began in a one-room schoolhouse and continued throughout her life. Ellie earned a bachelor's degree from Keene State College, and her first job was teaching English and French to high school students in the tiny borough of Port Matilda in State College, Pennsylvania.

Ellie met her husband John at a meeting of the First Baptist Church Youth Group in Brentwood, New Hampshire. On their first date, they went to a dance at the Town Hall in Kingston, New Hampshire. In 1948, they exchanged wedding vows at the church where they met. Earlier this year, Ellie and John celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary—a testament to their lifelong partnership.

After living in central Pennsylvania and southern California, Ellie and John made their permanent home in Lexington, Massachusetts, where they raised their three children and lived for 68 years until they moved to Carleton-Willard Village in Bedford, Massachusetts in 2023.

Deeply committed to her community, Ellie was active in her children's activities, the First Baptist Church in Lexington, and organizations supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She found joy in birding, sewing, quilting, baking, reading and spending time by the ocean. She was a devoted gardener who understood plants with an instinctive wisdom. She loved sharing her knowledge with her children and grandchildren, offering thoughtful advice that also helped countless friends and neighbors see their own gardens flourish.

Ellie's passion for nature, and her trailblazing vision for advancing women in the workforce and helping those in need translated into her professional work. She was a mentor and coach to women returning to the workforce with Wider Opportunities for Women. Ellie was proud of her own return to the workforce after raising her three children. She spent four years working at the Women's Educational and Industrial Union in Boston and moved on to become a leader in Human Resources at the Massachusetts Audubon Society where she retired in 1990.  Ellie was a dedicated Ombudsman for assisted living facilities in metropolitan Boston, and she served on the board of The American Baptist Church of Massachusetts (TABCOM) and the board of the Special Needs Arts Program (SNAP).

Ellie was a lifelong learner, whether gracefully pivoting to Zoom church services and yoga classes in the pandemic or keeping up with her grandchildren on Instagram and FaceTime. Her joyful spirit embraced new challenges and opportunities for connection.

Ellie is survived by her husband of 77 years, John; her loving children, Bruce B. Butler of Lexington; John E. Butler and his wife, Jane, of Charlestown; and Robin B. DiGiammarino and her husband, Paul, also of Charlestown. She is also survived by her cherished grandchildren—Sandra (Kate), Tim (Emily), Lizzy (Phil), David (Kelly), Julia (Scott), and Mark (Molly)—as well as nine (soon to be ten) adored great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her siblings, Barbara Smith Newell and Kenneth Smith.

A memorial service honoring Ellie's life will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2026, 1:30 PM, Carleton-Willard Village, 100 OId Billerica Rd., Bedford, Massachusetts.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Glaucoma Foundation https://glaucomafoundation.org/donate/honor-and-memorial-gifts/