On March 16, 2025, Lucy Mae Boucher died in her sleep after a courageous fight with cancer in Ellenton, Florida. Born Lucielle (a typo she always hated) Mae Buck to Edgar James Buck and Ethel Violet Johnson on April 30, 1946, in Johnstown, PA, Lucy was one of a kind from the beginning, destined to impact every life she touched. She had six siblings and called her beloved sister Michelle for years at 3:30 every afternoon until she died. If she loved you, you would know it.
Her children and daughters-in-law knew her as their fierce protector, constant cheerleader, and "mother-in-love," and her friends knew her as funny, warm, and energetic. Her grandchildren and great-grandchild delighted in her affection and dubbed her "Grandma Yuti, Princess Grandma Lucy, and Gi-Gi."
Lucy enjoyed many longtime partnerships throughout her life. She and her first husband, Kenneth Beyer, raised four children who she loved dearly, both for their accomplishments and their individual characters. She lost her beloved spouse, Thomas Boucher, after they battled numerous of his illnesses together. In her golden years, her high school sweetheart, David Blomquist, returned to her to become her longtime partner, blessing her with his care and loyalty.
An artist in retirement, she sold her work at art shows and participated regularly in her neighborhood's Art Club and its lesser-known and more exclusive "Secret Art Club." Her artwork encompassed multiple media and often centered on Florida's plants and animals but might also include a friend's favorite cat or a grandchild. The beautiful thing about her work is that it always expressed her nature-colorful and vibrant-and wasn't hung up on technical precision or trends. She painted what she liked, which is how she lived her life: always true to herself.
Lucy raised her children in Woodstock, IL, always hating the cold weather and flat land compared to the Maryland hills she grew up in. She moved to Florida when her late husband needed a warmer climate for his health. There, she found her true home, falling in love with its beaches, its people, and its ambience.
She is survived by her children, Lisa, Eva, David (Lisa Weckerle), and James (Jessica) Beyer; her partner, David Blomquist; and her four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, April 19, at 11 a.m. at Manatee Hall in Colony Cove, Ellenton, FL. Donations in her honor can be made to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance at colorectalcancer.org.
