STANDISH- On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Jean “Nanny” MacDonald left the loving arms of her surrounding family in
her home to eternally be back in the arms of her beloved husband, Lloyd N MacDonald. Jean’s
immeasurable and endless love for her family and friends along with her zest for just simply living, shined
brighter than the sun each and every minute of her 86 years of life on earth, it is that shine that touched
and left an impression on everything and everyone she encountered
Jean came into this world on August 1, 1939, first born and only daughter of the late Chester and
Charlotte (Small) Dow. At a very young age, as soon as she could walk and talk according to her, she
discovered she had a passion in life, that passion, taking care of the ones she loved. She embraced that
quality with pride and an ever-growing love in her heart, that she would go on to spread for decades
Shortly after completing high school, fate took the reins and she crossed paths with the man she would
devote her life to, her true love and soul mate, Lloyd Norman; It was “love at first letter”. Jean and Lloyd’s
love grew from a distance until Lloyd returned from the service. On February 14, 1959, they wed, a day
she spoke of often with a twinkle in her eye as if it were that very day again. They wasted little time before
spreading their love and starting a family of their own. As a mom to three and a homemaker, her
caretaking passion continued to grow and it spread beyond just her family, in fact, her home became the
place in which her children and their friends, extended family and neighbors would gather and hang out,
she always said “oh yeah, you never knew who was going to show up or what kind of chaos to expect”,
and she loved every minute of it!
Jean’s proudest and most fulfilled years began the instant she became a grandmother, she was overjoyed
and made it clear, she was going to be called nanny from that point on, and so she was! 6 grandchildren
and 11 great grandchildren had the honor of calling her their nanny. She lived and breathed for her grand
and great grandchildren. Soaked up every bit of time she could with them and they were the main topic of
just about every conversation she had with anybody, to say they were the apples of her eye, is an
understatement!
Nanny lived every moment of life to the fullest, including never passing up a day at camp, a boat or side
by side ride, a stroll around the yard with her dogs, even burnouts with her favorite driver! She loved her
family endlessly. She touched the hearts of each and every person she met and for that, her spirit will live
on forever.
Jean is survived by her children- Brenda Murphy and husband Neal of Auburndale, FL, Pamela Boutin
and husband Daniel of Standish, ME and Scott Macdonald of Poland, ME.; her brother Dean Dow and
wife Claire of Laconia, NH; Mark Boutin and wife Brianna of Cape Elizabeth, ME, Sabrina Morrell and
husband Kenneth of Standish, ME, Daniel Boutin and wife Liz of Limerick, ME, Natasha Penney and
husband Mitchell of FL, Tyler Murphy and wife Krystal of FL, Derek MacDonald and wife Stevie of ME, Lori
Gato and husband Jason of Standish, ME; Great Grandchildren- Madisyn Boutin, Mackenzie Boutin,
Pierson Boutin, Mila Boutin, Kolby Morrell and girlfriend Taylor Mitsin, Kacee Morrell, Brynleigh Boutin,
Brighton Boutin, Ella Gato, Noah Murphy and Gunner Murphy.
Visiting hours will be held on Friday March 13th from 10 AM - 12 noon, followed by a funeral service at 12 noon at the Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service Chapel, 498 Long Plains Road (Rt. 22) in Buxton. Burial will immediately follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland where she will be laid to rest next to her husband Lloyd.