Tonia Ann Boterf

HOMOSASSA, Fla. – Tonia Ann Boterf, of Homosassa, Fla., and previously a longtime resident of Belgrade, unexpectedly passed away on July 14, 2025.

The oldest child of Charles H. and Retha (Booker) Boterf Jr., Tonia was born on Nov. 13, 1958, in Waterville, graduating from Waterville High School. The Boterf family built a camp in Lynch Cove on Long Pond in Belgrade Lakes where they spent their summers for much of Tonia’s childhood. The family moved to Belgrade permanently in 1979.

Tonia first attended Bryant College in Rhode Island, then the University of Maine at Machias, before transferring to the University of Maine in Farmington, where she earned a B.A. in Business. She later received a master’s degree in business development.

Tonia worked at the Ethan Allen furniture manufacturing facility in Pittsfield, before becoming employed at various elder care facilities in the Waterville area, using her education and training as a Licensed Social Worker in helping develop plans and systems to assist the residents. She then began working with the State of Maine, in various capacities, before becoming a career counselor at Vocational Rehabilitation, where she spent several years helping adults in selecting work opportunities that best fit their needs and abilities. She coordinated job placement prospects with various businesses and received an award from the Coastal Economic Development Corporation in Bath for her work. An opportunity for her arose with the Maine Disabilities Council, and she transferred there, becoming heavily involved in that program’s work.

Tonia left state employment in 2004 and shortly after, earned a degree in Holistic Health, and began helping others dealing with career changes and life issues, which led to her creating the ‘Practical Expert’ business. The business became a platform for business guidance, life coaching, and creating guides and resources to aid ‘boomers’ in providing appropriate assistance to their aging parents. That effort led to her writing the guide ‘Real Life Solutions to Help Care for Aging Parents’.

For hobbies, Tonia painted with watercolors and shared that passion with others though classes at her dining room table, but lately, she had become involved in creating greeting cards.

Tonia loved dogs and cats and almost always had them around. When she was younger, she volunteered at the Waterville animal shelter and helped care for the animals there.

She is survived by her husband, George MacDonald; her daughter, M. Breau, from her first marriage; her sister, Taffy Davis, her husband Byron (Buzz) and their two children, Benjamin and Abigail.

Their family also included George’s three children from his previous marriage, their spouses and families, Jonathan and Michelle; Matthew and Kristin; Melinda and Donald Poulin Jr; and eight grandchildren.

No service is planned at this time.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the

Humane Society of Waterville (Maine) Area or to

Precious Paws Rescue Inc.,

Lecanto, Fla.