OAKLAND – Ruth Marie (Lawrence) Buker, 95, of Oakland passed away on Oct. 20, 2021, after a lengthy battle with peripheral vascular disease, with her loving family by her side. Ruth was born on July 28 1926 the daughter of Mabel (Crockett) and Earl Lawrence Sr. When asked where she grew up, she would proudly say, “I was born and brought right up in Fairfield.”. She was one of twelve children and she cherished her relationships with all her siblings and their families. When she was 10 years old, Ruth contracted Polio and was completely paralyzed for some time. With therapy, she eventually regained the use of her legs and her right arm, but had only limited mobility in her left arm for the remainder of her life. This never stopped her from doing anything she wanted to do, though. She adapted to make things work for her, so much that most people didn’t even know she ever had polio. Ruth attended Fairfield schools and married her late husband, Harold Buker, also of Fairfield, on Sept. 2, 1944. Although they were never able to have any biological children of their own, she would babysit many of her nieces and nephews throughout the years. She had a unique way with children and knew the art of reverse psychology before it was even a thing. Everyone loved “Aunt Ruthy”. She was like a mother to many, but especially to her great niece, Shannon, who she influenced and raised. From the time of her birth to the time of her death, Ruth nourished those around her with her unconditional love and music. Music was a big part of her life, both while growing up and into her married life. She sang and played guitar alongside her husband throughout their almost 65 years of marriage. That was what she missed the most when Harold passed away … their beautiful music. They wrote many songs together and played in several bands that performed locally when they lived in Connecticut and Maine.

After the passing of her husband in 2009, she moved from Winslow to Oakland with her niece, Shannon, and family. She loved spending time with her grandbabies and was proud of their every achievement. She also began to attend church regularly with her brother, Billy. The day she was baptized eight years ago was one of the happiest moments of her life. Even though she lived the words daily, she did not feel complete until she was properly baptized.

Ruth was predeceased by her husband Harold, her parents, her sisters, Iva Carter, Alma Mower, Priscilla Wing, and Olive Chapman, and her brothers, Norman Lawrence, Floyd Lawrence, Colby Lawrence and Melvin Lawrence. She will be sadly missed by her special niece, Shannon (Buker) Bizier and her husband Jeremiah of Oakland, her grandchildren, Martina and D. Cash Bizier of Oakland, her sister Rebecca Clifford of Shawmut, her brother William Lawrence and his wife Elaine of Benton and her brother Earl Lawrence and his wife Carol of Benton. She leaves behind many loving nieces and nephews who she held a special place in her heart for, as well as the many friends she made along the way.

Per Ruth’s request, there will be no services other than a graveside service at the Maine Veterans Cemetery on the Mt. Vernon Rd in Augusta on Nov. 29, at 1 p.m.

As a longtime lover of all animals, her wish was to have donations made in her name to the Waterville Humane Society

in lieu of flowers.


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