James S. Baybutt, 83

James Stephen Baybutt was born in Nashua, on June 9, 1942, and passed away peacefully at home in his recliner on Jan. 27, 2026, after a typical active day spent with family and friends.

Jim achieved success by living life on his own terms, working continuously to build and run his own business and amassing a vast network of friends and colleagues.

He grew up in Billerica, Massachusetts, did post-high school studies at Wentworth Institute, “where they had a very strict curr-ik-ulum.” Following college, Jim served his country in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he bravely defended the coast of New Jersey from the Viet Cong.

He worked as a draftsman for Raytheon and Sanders before marrying Karen Elizabeth Ahola. They moved to Tamworth, in 1970, where Jim started his poured concrete business, Baybutt Foundations. This business became an extension of his life and personality and through which he made lifelong friendships throughout Carroll County and around Northern New England.

Jim was famously outgoing and gregarious, and generous in ways that didn't always show, offering his time through driving anyone where they needed to go and dropping in to visit with friends far and wide. He loved to travel; he would always run into someone he knew. Jim enjoyed meeting new people, and hearing about others’ experiences, challenges, and successes. He had an impressive memory and loved to touch base with friends and acquaintances, whether with an impromptu visit or phone call. He loved to joke, to laugh, to push your buttons, to trade banter, to have light-hearted debate, to support his friends through conversation and humor — as off-kilter or off-color as his sense of humor could be. “Life’s too short” to be otherwise, he would say.

He is survived by his wife Cathy Baybutt and children Stephen Baybutt, Sharon La Porte, Jennifer Ladieu, Duston Ladieu and Joshua Ladieu, and 12 grandchildren.

Jim would want to toast the Almost There lunch group and the Tuesday night meeting group.

In lieu of flowers and gifts please consider donating in his name to The Tamworth Foundation, tamworthfoundation.org.

The family will have a private celebration in the spring.

Lord Funeral Home of Ossipee, is assisting the family with arrangements. If you wish to express a condolence or leave a fond memory, visit lordfuneralhome.com.