Obituary of William Porter Orcutt

William Porter “Bill” Orcutt, 83, passed away on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at Providence Saint Peter Hospital in Olympia, Washington. He was born March 24, 1940, in Masardis, Maine, a son of the late Rosalvo and Ruth (Porter) Orcutt.

On September 17, 1960, Bill married his wife, Jannett Marie (Schultz) Orcutt. They shared their lives together for over 63 years as they raised their family and journeyed through life.   

Bill was raised on his family’s farm in Ashland, Maine, and graduated from Ashland High School in 1958. He joined the United States Air Force after high school and served proudly for eight years as an electrician. His duty assignments included Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, the Strategic Air Command Base in Goose Bay, Labrador, and Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.

Bill worked for the Maine Forest Service as a District Ranger (#210) in Portage and Greenville from 1967 to 1987. He truly enjoyed this work and the people he met along the way. Bill also owned and operated North Star Maple Products in northwestern Maine, which he was proud to say was one of largest maple syrup businesses in New England. In 1999, Bill and Jan retired to Eureka, Montana, where they lived on their family farm and enjoyed raising hay for sale and vegetables, which Bill would often share with neighbors. During this time, he also worked for Glen Lake Irrigation Company. Bill loved the community of Eureka and all the great people he befriended. In 2021, Bill and Jan moved to Olympia, Washington, to be closer to family members.

Bill enjoyed the outdoors and had a passion from a very young age for hunting, trapping, and fishing. For many years, Bill would spend months in northern Maine on his parents’ farm, trapping fox, coyotes, beaver, and martin. He continued this passion in Montana, where he hunted elk, deer, and mountain lion. Bill would often hunt to take pictures and had a significant portfolio of these very beautiful creatures. Along the way and always by his side was a special friend, his dog Max.    

Bill is survived by his wife, Jan Orcutt; three daughters, Tammy (Alan) Nason of Portage, Maine; Julie Orcutt of Olympia, Washington; Carrie (Arthur) Shaw of Largo, Florida; and son Tim (Lori-Ann) Orcutt of Olympia, Washington. His grandchildren include Katelynn Orcutt of Portland, Maine; Rieland Graves of Shirley, Maine; Rebecca Holman of Gardiner, Maine; Elizabeth Orcutt of Olympia, Washington; Matthew Orcutt of Olympia, Washington; and many great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. 

In addition to his parents, Bill was predeceased by his siblings, Martha Prue, Lois Farr, Lorene Singer, John Orcutt, and granddaughter, Katie Cummings.

The family is planning a celebration of life for a later time.

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FAMILY REQUESTS NO FLOWERS, PLEASE.

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