Helen A. (Butler) Barlow, 89, of Boothbay Harbor, died Dec. 31, 2016 in Safe Havens at St. Andrews Village. She was the wife of the late Earle Barlow.

Helen was born on Nov. 1, 1927 in Springvale, Maine, and was the daughter of the late Albert L. and Dorothy G. (Wellington) Butler. After graduating from high school in Sanford, she attended The School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. She was a longtime resident of East Boothbay before moving to St. Andrews Village in 2009. She and Earle sold his paintings and her hand-made jewelry at their home-gallery, the Studio of Ships, also in East Boothbay. Additionally, Helen worked at Andersen Studio for many years painting pottery.

In the early years of her marriage she and her husband, Earle, lived an adventurous life sailing, and painting. As they stopped in towns along the way they sold their paintings to make a living. Even when their first son was born they continued to sail for the first year of his life. Their passion for sailing continued in the later years of their lives when Earle built a boat, the Altair, and they sailed to Europe where they stayed for two winters, painting, square dancing, and sailing across Europe. Helen loved to bake bread on the boat and would generously share with their fellow square dancers.

She was a devoted wife and mother as she lovingly raised her three children. Whether she was baking pies at the holidays, picking blueberries with her children and making muffins, she relished every moment. She was a fervent reader and shared her love of books and history with her children. Sailing as a family up and down the New England coast and taking ice cream runs are memories her family will hold close to their heart. Helen loved cats and it always seemed that strays found their way to her. She will now be sorely missed by Momcat.

She is survived by her two sons, Michael Barlow and his wife Jeanine, of Westborough, Massachusetts, Christopher Barlow of Braintree, Massachusetts; son-in-law, Arnold van der Lee; granddaughter, Jeanette van der Lee, both of Bilthoven, The Netherlands; brother, Norman Butler of Sanford; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her daughter, Catherine van der Lee-Barlow, her brother, Tommy Butler and her sister, Irene Durgin.

A memorial service for Helen will be held on Friday, Jan. 6 at 11 a.m. at the East Boothbay United Methodist Church, located at 2 Church Street in East Boothbay. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Interment will follow in the Oceanview Cemetery in Boothbay. There will be a reception at the church after the interment. Hall’s of Boothbay has care of Helen’s arrangements. To extend online condolences, please visit hallfuneralhomes.com.