Mary Therese Butorac

Mary Therese "Teri" BUTORAC

(aka: Teri McMillen / Ferren) of Langley, WA, passed away on May 28, 2016.

Teri was born in Oakland, California on March 28, 1954, to George Frank and Mary Joan (nee Gordon) Butorac (both deceased). She grew up in Daly City, California, in the 1960s, and was formed by the art and political culture of San Francisco at that influential time. Her family moved to Bellevue, Washington, in 1969, and Teri graduated from Interlake High School in 1972. She went on to earn an AA degree from Bellevue Community College, and received specialized training for the travel industry at Highline Community College. She enjoyed a long career at Alaska Airlines, working there for 31 years, from 1979 to 2010, until illness forced her into retirement.

Teri was extremely creative and felt deeply connected to the nature that surrounded her on Whidbey Island. She found many ways to express that connection, through her photography, painting, gardening, knitting and cooking; she was always eager to share the bounty of Whidbey Island with her friends and family. Coming from a family of fly fishermen, Teri enjoyed fishing, clamming, crabbing, and watching for the gray whales as they moved into Saratoga Passage. She also had a love for dogs that is unparalleled, and doted on her pets with great joy. This love moved her to volunteer at the Whidbey Animals Improvement Foundation (WAIF).

She was also very committed to social justice. She was an activist for workers' rights through her union (COPS-IAMAW), was a diligent proponent of human rights and economic justice, and volunteered her time at the Good Cheer Food Bank in Langley. Her Catholic faith and the social teachings of the Church were an inseparable part of everything she did.

Teri fought a long, courageous battle against ovarian cancer. Bolstered by her strong trust in God's plan, and lovingly attended by her physicians, she survived the debilitating disease for over five years.

She is survived by her sister, Nina Jane Butorac; her brother, John James Butorac (wife Lynda, nee Vander Yacht); nephews, Zachary and Joseph; her beloved great-nieces, Mahayla and Zoey; and step great-nephew, Brayden. She also leaves behind loving step-children, Andrew and Tavia. She is preceded in death by her older brother, Joseph Gordon Butorac.

Funeral Mass for Teri will be held
Wednesday, June 8th at 10:30 AM at
St. Hubert Catholic Church
804 Third Street, Langley WA,
Followed by a reception at 12:00 Noon, and then burial at Langley Woodmen Cemetery.

Remembrances may be made to Whidbey Animals Improvement Foundation (WAIF), The Good Cheer Food Bank, or Island Senior Services.

Hoffner Fisher & Harvey

Guest book at harveyfuneral.com

To send a flower arrangement in memory of
Mary Therese Butorac, please click here to visit our sympathy store.