Born in 1923 as Eunice May Alder, she moved to Monrovia, CA at age two after her father died.
She was raised by her mother and brother Herbert Alder whom she idolized. As children they spent many hours in the foothills collecting butterflies, which became a lifelong passion and the basis of her business as "Madame Butterfly." Herbie was killed flying over Germany in WWII, but his remains were never recovered and she spent decades hoping for his return. Shortly after Herbie's death, she married David Buckingham.
She was a stunning blond, with a sexy walk as a result of polio. As a youth she spent her holidays in Laguna Beach and Balboa Bay, where she met her future husband, Wade Errett, on a paddleboard.
After Wade's death in 1963, she moved to Laguna Beach and became active in acquiring "fixer-uppers" in the 60's and 70's. She was an early exhibitor at the Sawdust festival, with her first booth in 1968. In 1974, she opened her Butterfly Safari shop in the Village Fair in Laguna and later moved to the Art Center.
She was an active member of the Unitarian Church in the 70's and 80's. She always considered her house "open" for friends and family, and at any dinner there was an extra setting for the "guest" who might stop by.
She died from lung cancer, but swore that she never inhaled.
She is survived by her sons Bruce Buckingham, David Buckingham and John Errett, and her granddaughters Megan and Julia Buckingham, and her third husband, Derek DuMaurier. She was devoted to her granddaughters, dogs, cats, and her home, where she reluctantly left this world.
A memorial service will be held on 9/18/2011 at the Unitarian Church, 429 Cypress Drive, Laguna Beach, CA, at 3:00 p.m., followed by a reception at her home.
Published in the Los Angeles Times on August 25, 2011.
She was raised by her mother and brother Herbert Alder whom she idolized. As children they spent many hours in the foothills collecting butterflies, which became a lifelong passion and the basis of her business as "Madame Butterfly." Herbie was killed flying over Germany in WWII, but his remains were never recovered and she spent decades hoping for his return. Shortly after Herbie's death, she married David Buckingham.
She was a stunning blond, with a sexy walk as a result of polio. As a youth she spent her holidays in Laguna Beach and Balboa Bay, where she met her future husband, Wade Errett, on a paddleboard.
After Wade's death in 1963, she moved to Laguna Beach and became active in acquiring "fixer-uppers" in the 60's and 70's. She was an early exhibitor at the Sawdust festival, with her first booth in 1968. In 1974, she opened her Butterfly Safari shop in the Village Fair in Laguna and later moved to the Art Center.
She was an active member of the Unitarian Church in the 70's and 80's. She always considered her house "open" for friends and family, and at any dinner there was an extra setting for the "guest" who might stop by.
She died from lung cancer, but swore that she never inhaled.
She is survived by her sons Bruce Buckingham, David Buckingham and John Errett, and her granddaughters Megan and Julia Buckingham, and her third husband, Derek DuMaurier. She was devoted to her granddaughters, dogs, cats, and her home, where she reluctantly left this world.
A memorial service will be held on 9/18/2011 at the Unitarian Church, 429 Cypress Drive, Laguna Beach, CA, at 3:00 p.m., followed by a reception at her home.
Published in the Los Angeles Times on August 25, 2011.
Born in 1923 as Eunice May Alder, she moved to Monrovia, CA at age two after her father died.
She was raised by her mother and brother Herbert Alder whom she idolized. As children they spent many hours in the foothills collecting butterflies, which became a lifelong passion and the basis of her business as "Madame Butterfly." Herbie was killed flying over Germany in WWII, but his remains were never recovered and she spent decades hoping for his return. Shortly after Herbie's death, she married David Buckingham.
She was a stunning blond, with a sexy walk as a result of polio. As a youth she spent her holidays in Laguna Beach and Balboa Bay, where she met her future husband, Wade Errett, on a paddleboard.
After Wade's death in 1963, she moved to Laguna Beach and became active in acquiring "fixer-uppers" in the 60's and 70's. She was an early exhibitor at the Sawdust festival, with her first booth in 1968. In 1974, she opened her Butterfly Safari shop in the Village Fair in Laguna and later moved to the Art Center.
She was an active member of the Unitarian Church in the 70's and 80's. She always considered her house "open" for friends and family, and at any dinner there was an extra setting for the "guest" who might stop by.
She died from lung cancer, but swore that she never inhaled.
She is survived by her sons Bruce Buckingham, David Buckingham and John Errett, and her granddaughters Megan and Julia Buckingham, and her third husband, Derek DuMaurier. She was devoted to her granddaughters, dogs, cats, and her home, where she reluctantly left this world.
A memorial service will be held on 9/18/2011 at the Unitarian Church, 429 Cypress Drive, Laguna Beach, CA, at 3:00 p.m., followed by a reception at her home.
Published in the Los Angeles Times on August 25, 2011.
She was raised by her mother and brother Herbert Alder whom she idolized. As children they spent many hours in the foothills collecting butterflies, which became a lifelong passion and the basis of her business as "Madame Butterfly." Herbie was killed flying over Germany in WWII, but his remains were never recovered and she spent decades hoping for his return. Shortly after Herbie's death, she married David Buckingham.
She was a stunning blond, with a sexy walk as a result of polio. As a youth she spent her holidays in Laguna Beach and Balboa Bay, where she met her future husband, Wade Errett, on a paddleboard.
After Wade's death in 1963, she moved to Laguna Beach and became active in acquiring "fixer-uppers" in the 60's and 70's. She was an early exhibitor at the Sawdust festival, with her first booth in 1968. In 1974, she opened her Butterfly Safari shop in the Village Fair in Laguna and later moved to the Art Center.
She was an active member of the Unitarian Church in the 70's and 80's. She always considered her house "open" for friends and family, and at any dinner there was an extra setting for the "guest" who might stop by.
She died from lung cancer, but swore that she never inhaled.
She is survived by her sons Bruce Buckingham, David Buckingham and John Errett, and her granddaughters Megan and Julia Buckingham, and her third husband, Derek DuMaurier. She was devoted to her granddaughters, dogs, cats, and her home, where she reluctantly left this world.
A memorial service will be held on 9/18/2011 at the Unitarian Church, 429 Cypress Drive, Laguna Beach, CA, at 3:00 p.m., followed by a reception at her home.
Published in the Los Angeles Times on August 25, 2011.
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