FARMINGTON — Sylvia Wells Holbrook, 95, of Farmington passed away on July 20, at Edgewood Center for Rehabilitation and Living Center, where she had been a resident since Dec. 29, 2008.

She was born Feb. 26, 1916, at the Wells Homestead, on what is now the Holbrook Road on what is now the Anson Valley Road, to Harry O. and Lena D. (Allen) Wells. She was the last sibling in the family of 10. She attended schools at Tacott Corner in New Vineyard and in Madison, traveling by horse and buggy.

She married Irving C. Holbrook on Jan. 28, 1932, and lived 76 years on the farm known as Hillcrest Farm at the end of the road. She was most content staying on the farm and rarely left the hill.

Sylvia was known as “The Butter Lady” having made as many as 8,516 pounds of butter in a single year. Even vacationers heard of her outstanding quality butter and would bring coolers to pack the butter in when they returned home and often she had a waiting list for her butter. Sylvia was featured in Down East and Yankee magazines for her butter making techniques and was also featured in the book “Women Living on The Land.” She often said the flavor was from her happy, contented cows.

At one time, she was a 4-H leader to a club in New Vineyard and then assistant leader of the Franklin County 4-H Working Steer Club. She was an honorary member of the Maine Milking Shorthorn Society. Registered Milking Shorthorns were raised on the farm and her matched pairs of calves were sought after and in great demand. Her Milking Shorthorns were shown at many of the Maine fairs and at the Big E in West Springfield, Mass. Fryeburg Fair honored her in 2001 as one of their outstanding exhibitors. She enjoyed pulling the oxen in the “powder puff” classes.

She had attended the Mountain View Bible Church in New Vineyard. Sylvia was ever so proud of her vegetable gardens, her strawberry beds, her magnificent glads she raised, and of course her fabulous yeast rolls. During winter months, she made quilts for many of the family members. On April 16, 2010, she was honored by the State of Maine as an outstanding matriarch of Maine Agriculture.

Sylvia is survived by her children, sons, Lewis and Rodney of New Vineyard; daughters, Eleanor Pooler of Solon, Lucille Bates of Hermon, Barbara Steward of Augusta and Donna Holbrook of New Vineyard; 18 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; and a great-great-great-grandchild.

She was predeceased by her husband of 57 years, Irving C.; a son, Harry O.; her parents, Harry and Lena Dell Wells; her brothers, Venora and George; her sisters, Frances Roberts, Olivia Parlin, Marion Arcutt, Emma Hargreaves, Bernice Moore, Virginia Goodyke and Ester Fletcher; and nieces and nephews, Mary Ellen Fletcher, Virginia Lidstone, Frank Kenny, Millard Parlin Jr., Roland Hargreaves, Osborne Wells, John Roberts II and Thelma Wacome.

Condolences may be sent for the family at www.adamsmcfarlane.com.