June P (Hilton) Messier

June P. Messier, 92, of Wells, passed away peacefully September 2, 2023 at Huntington Commons in Kennebunk.

She was born in Chelsea, MA March 21, 1931 and raised by her grandparents, Barbara and George Hilton. They owned an old farm homestead on Buffum Hill in Wells where they summered each year, opening the Buffum Hill Farm Stand in 1931.  As a child, June spent her summers in Wells, learning farming and loving her time in our seaside community.  When she was 14, June remained in Wells, graduating Wells High in 1948.

June met her husband, Roger Messier when he was stationed at Fort Devins, MA.  He agreed to help her move her ailing grandmother who had returned to Massachusetts, back to Buffum Hill in Wells.  June said “He came up the hill, liked what he saw, and never left!”  They were married February 29, 1952.

She began her working career at the old Dresser Marsh in Kennebunk, then the offices of Cole Harrison, owned her own shop called “The Scottish Shop” in Portsmouth then moved it to Kennebunk.  In 1972, she and Roger took over the Buffum Hill Farm Stand from her uncle Dorrell Hilton.  They expanded the farm produce, the stand, and June made homemade products to sell.  After retiring, they leased the stand.  June was active working the polls on voting day for many years. 

June also built a professional singing career, hired as a soloist in many of the area churches and as the choir director in others from Portsmouth to Biddeford.  In Cardiac Capers for 8 years, raising money to build the Biddeford Southern Maine Hospital and singing with Seacoast Savoyards.

June’s volunteer efforts in Wells are legendary.  She served on the school board for 8 years, including the difficult years of separation from Ogunquit, was a member and officer in the Wells Grange for more than 25 years, was Ms. Maine in the Senior American Pageant held in Atlantic City, NJ in 1992, was board member for the Wells/Ogunquit Senior Center, was one of the earliest members of the Senior Needs Committee of Wells and Ogunquit where she became the Treasurer where she worked tirelessly on efforts to raise funds to build the Senior Center, was director of the local community theater group “Applause for a Cause” doing volunteer performances to raise money for local organizations and was in charge of the Wells Harbor Park Concerts for more than 12 years.  In April 2013 she received a Governor’s Award for Service and Volunteerism at a State House Ceremony in Augusta. June was also on the board of the Animal Welfare Society of West Kennebunk and held the office of Chaplain in the Wells Elks Club.  June always had the energy and willingness to participate in her community until her late 80’s.

June was predeceased by her husband Roger in 2021.  Surviving are her daughters, Elizabeth (Robert) Littlefield and Patricia Messier of Wells; 2 grandchildren, Allison Parker and Justin (Danielle) Parker; great-granddaughters, Kaitlyn Ouellette and Madelynne Stevens.

A time of visitation will be held Tuesday, September 12 from 2pm to 4pm at the Johnson Funeral Home, 26 Market Street, North Berwick, ME.  Memorial Donations are welcomed to the Wells/Ogunquit Senior Center, P.O. Box 987, Wells, ME 04090.

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