Hundreds, if not thousands, of people across Butler County will miss Mary Hulton Phillips, who died early last week at age 88.

Mary was well known for her generosity in providing financial support to many organizations and efforts throughout the Butler area. She also was well known for her lively personality and sometimes-bawdy humor.

But recollections by some of Mary's many friends revealed that she was much more than generous and funny. She was a well-rounded person with wide-ranging interests who connected with people at all levels of society and from all walks of life.

And when Mary became involved in a group or cause, she was not only generous with financial gifts, but she also became an advocate in the community for that cause, urging others to add their support in whatever way they could.

Mary's community service was not something she came to late in life. She was active in civic and volunteer efforts in Butler long before she had the financial wherewithal to make major contributions. Her work helping others in the community began some 60-plus years ago with involvement in the March of Dimes and early efforts to battle polio. The Mothers' March of Dimes program that Mary developed for Butler County was recognized and later adopted as a national model.

Looking at that long history of doing for others and making Butler a better place to live, it's clear that the size of Mary's heart exceeded the size of her substantial financial gifts.

Rather than simply write checks, Mary was involved in many organizations throughout the community. She served on many boards and was a valued contributor for not only her knowledge of local history but also her ability to ask tough questions and offer creative ideas. She wanted to make sure that money was being spent properly and effectively. Rather than serve as a figurehead or in an honorary capacity, she was an active participant in the groups she supported.

Mary was passionate about Butler and took her philanthropy seriously. She seemed to relish her leadership role in the community, but despite her high-level status she didn't take herself too seriously. Her quick wit and talent for joke-telling could break up the tension at a meeting.

While many of Mary's financial contributions were widely known, she also provided support to many other efforts that were known only to a small group of people. One person remembering Mary last week suggested that she did much more than people realized — and that was a lot.

Mary was an active supporter of the United Way, the Butler Women's Club, YWCA and the Butler County Historical Society. She also worked with Butler Memorial Hospital, the Endowment for Butler County, Butler County Community College, the Butler Symphony and the Butler County Chamber of Commerce.

At any given time, Mary could be serving on a dozen boards of directors. And her support extended beyond the boardroom, to a personal level.

Mary's legacy is found in dozens of organizations across the community, from the community college and the hospital to the UnitedWay and Butler County Blind Association.

The most visible part of her legacy is the beautiful Maridon Museum, which Mary had built in 2004 to house her remarkable collection of Chinese jade, carved ivory and Meissen porcelain figures. The Maridon Museum not only provides a spectacular home for Mary's beloved collection of Asian art, but it also put Butler on the map as the home of her world-class collection.

In addition to the museum's annual celebration of the Chinese New Year, this year's event on Feb. 21 at Butler Country Club will include a tribute to Mary by some of the many people she worked with — and touched — over the years.

As much as Mary will be missed, it also can be said that she led a rich and rewarding life with joy, good humor and enthusiasm. She treasured her community, her friends and spent most of her life helping to make the lives of others better.

By all accounts, it was a life well lived, and a life dedicated to making others' lives better. But there is no doubt that throughout the Butler area, Mary, and her contributions on so many levels, will be missed.