Marie Nicholson "Bootsie" Burroughs died peacefully on March 16, 2016 at the Hospice House in Callaway, MD. She was 87 years old. ?

She was born the youngest of nine children on June 24, 1928 and lived her entire life in Southern Maryland. On April 22, 1948, Bootsie married Donald Burroughs of Charlotte Hall, MD. Together, they had three children and in 1964 moved to her husband's family tobacco farm where she remained for the rest of her long life.

Bootsie was a strong-willed, outspoken woman who never minced words that she tempered with her own brand of humor. She was very intelligent and never forgot a date, a memory or event, a trait that stayed with her until the very end. Hers was a life of order and perfection. Nothing was ever dirty or out of place.

Though she was a strikingly attractive woman, Bootsie never liked to have her picture taken. She loved snow, even though she was always cold as well as the state of Vermont, but never actually traveled there.

Her life's work was restoring the historic Burroughs family house which she said she loved from the moment she first laid eyes on it sitting high up on the hill. The origins of the house date back to the late 1600s which grew additions over time. Bootsie transformed the humble house and grounds into a period-perfect master piece. Through masterful attention to detail, she recreated a colonial home that was warm and beautiful. Red was her favorite color which was the thread that ran throughout the house and included all four kitchen walls. Christmas was Bootsie's favorite time of the year and she celebrated by putting a decorated tree in every room and greenery on every surface imaginable. It was breathtakingly beautiful.

Bootsie leaves behind her husband of 68 years, Donald, her sons, John (Judy) and David (Michele) and her daughter Anne. Also surviving are 3 grandchildren, Ashley (Jennifer), Jessica and Jamie Burroughs and 2 great-grandchildren, Shaun and Ryan Burroughs.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, March 20, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with prayers being recited at 7:00 p.m. at Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home, 30195 Three Notch Road, Charlotte Hall, Maryland 20622. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, March 21, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Bryantown, 13715 Notre Dame Place, Bryantown, Maryland 20617. Interment will follow at St. Mary's Bryantown Church Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to: Hospice of St. Mary's, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650, which provided such loving care to Bootsie in her last days. Arrangements provided by Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home.