Story and photo by Stephanie Burgess –
Lloyd “Butch” Burgess, Jr. passed away at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Waterville on Friday evening, January 9, 2009. Butch will be greatly missed by his adoring family. He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 42 years, Barbara Jean Atkinson Burgess of Fairfield and his three children, daughters Stephanie Burgess and Jennifer Robbins of Oakland and his son Jeffrey Burgess and his companion Nya Clement of E. Madison. He was the extremely proud grandparent of Bailey Burgess and Cody and Chelsea Robbins, all of Oakland. Butch was greatly anticipating the birth of a grandson in June to Jeff and Nya.
The greatest love of his life, besides his family, was stock car racing. A second-generation driver, 
Butch began his racing career in 1969 at Unity Raceway where he later won three track championships in 1971, 1977 and 1988. He was voted Most Popular Driver by his many fans and was a founding member and President of the Central Maine Racing Association in the late 1980s. Butch raced at several tracks around the state during his 24-year career. In 1997 he realized his life-long dream of owning a racecar shop with his son Jeff. He had retired this past October. Butch was highly respected for his knowledge of racecar technology and loved to share what he knew with anyone who was eager to learn.
A celebration of Butch’s life will be held on Sunday January 18th at the Poulin-Turner Union Hall in Hinkley. From exit 133 of I-95, turn North onto Rt. 201 toward Skowhegan. The hall is approximately 10.5 miles from the exit. Refreshments will be served. All friends, new and old, are invited to attend the celebration.