Obituary: Phyllis O. Boutilier

Phyllis Osgood Boutilier, 95, of Houghton Canal, died on August 26, 2024, at Mission Point Nursing & Physical Rehabilitation Center in Hancock, MI. She was born on August 9, 1929, in Bradford, Maine; grew up on the family farm and attended the two-room Bradford Corner School until high school, then graduated from Higgins Classical Institute in neighboring Charleston. She studied Electrical Engineering at the University of Maine, and played field hockey and basketball, as well as keeping up her grades. She was the first woman to graduate in that discipline at the University of Maine, in 1951. She was academically eligible to join the honorary engineering society, Tau Beta Pi, but was genetically ineligible due to being female. She was married to David Boutilier of Smyrna Mills, Maine, a fellow student, in 1949. They moved to Houghton in 1956, where Dave taught at Michigan Tech and they raised four children, mostly on the ski hill. Dave passed away in 1990. Phyllis taught Math at Suomi College from 1962 to 1965, and at Michigan Tech from 1968 to 1998, retiring as an Associate Professor. In 1998, Phyllis married Arthur Sargent Weaver of Medford, MA, who passed away in 2013. Phyllis was Assistant Department Head for several years, Director of Freshman courses, and a member of the Faculty Senate. In 1996, she received the Departmental Faculty Teaching Award. She was active for many years in the American Society for Engineering Education, the League of Women Voters, and Dial HELP, holding various offices in these organizations. She received the MTU Mathematics Department’s Distinguished Service Award in 1998 and the Distinguished Educator and Service Award of the Mathematics Division of the ASEE in 2003. She is survived by four children: Karen (Chris Schwertfeger) of Alameda, CA, Elaine (Blaine Tornow) of Durango, CO, Alan (Kathy) of Powell Butte, WA, and Eric (Joan) of Lake Zurich, IL, three grandchildren Janet (Richard) Schwartz, Joseph Boutilier and Elise Boutilier, two great grandchildren: Rosanna and Lorelei Schwartz, four step-daughters: Sue Weaver (Doug Beckman) of Kalamazoo, MI, Alice Weaver of Portland, OR, Carole (Bob) Radcliffe of Kalamazoo, MI, Ellen (Jan) Rankinen of Houston, TX and two step-grandchildren, Lauren Bourgeois and Jordan Rankinen

A memorial service will be held at a future date at the Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. An active member there, Phyllis helped start the building fund. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to the Copper Country Humane Society, Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly or Omega House.

The O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home of Hancock is assisting with her arrangements. To leave online condolences, please go to www.oneilldennisfh.com.