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Obituary Archives – 2016
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Marshall Towle Butler Rice Funeral Service
Services to honor and remember the life of Marshall Towle Butler will be 1:00 pm, Monday in the Chapel of the Garden at Rice Funeral Service. Interment will follow at Hogan Cemetery, Locust Grove. Visitation will be prior to the service from 12-1:00 p.m. Marshall passed away June 17, 2016 in the Claremore Veterans Center. He was 69. Born October 31, 1946 in Alexandria, Virginia, Marshall was the son of Walter Marshall and Elizabeth Anne (Eldredge) Butler. The young Butler family moved often and Marshall and his two sisters often teased that their residence was that of a moving van. However, it was in Pittsburgh that he graduated from Upper St. Clair High School. The true spirit of “home” for the Butler kiddos was found in Covington, VA where the family resided for 10 years. However, when summertime rolled around, the kids were off to Minnesota where they formed close knit bonds with the Eldredge side of the family. This scenic and picturesque area touted the most beautiful lakes where Marshall loved to fish, swim, play, and simply enjoy nature. A true southern gentleman, like his father, Marshall always served as a protector of his sisters. He was kind-hearted and chivalrous; however, at times he exhibited a bit of orneriness and was given plenty of opportunity to be such as he and his sisters enjoyed much freedom roaming the countryside in Covington. Their main focus was exploration – leaving out early in the morning and returning home in just enough time for dinner. Bright and intelligent, Marshall excelled in anything he put his mind to--from Boy Scout’s and becoming an Eagle Scout, and even to his eight years of college, at four different schools. This was to determine exactly what he wanted to do and who he wanted to be – with intent focus and purpose. Marshall was a third generation American serviceman and served in the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1969 and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Viet Nam Service Medal and Viet Nam Campaign Medal. He proudly followed in the footsteps of his grandfather who served in WWI and father who served in WWII. Upon his honorable discharge and later graduation from Central State University, Edmond, OK, Marshall worked for a brief time in the banking industry and later found a bit more enjoyment in the accounting sector. However, just as he was raised with the freedom to explore – so was his freedom in the work place. This is why Marshall would best be described as an entrepreneur. Although he worked as an auditor, he dabbled in many different other business opportunities. A couple that he thoroughly enjoyed and that brought out the true ‘people person’ in Marshall included building and managing an apartment complex and starting the snow cone stand, Tropical Snow, in the Warehouse Market parking lot. Both of these allowed him to visit with and show true concern for others. On December 26, 1979, Marshall married Bettie McClung. He welcomed her family as his own and counted each gained relationship as a treasure. He enjoyed traveling with Bettie through the years and took great care of her during her time of health challenges and illness. He even found a way to take her to Germany twice to receive treatments, not available in the states, before her passing. In his younger days, Marshall enjoyed hunting not for the kill, but just because he enjoyed the art of the game. Later in life he loved to garden, both vegetable and flower gardens and he also took great pride in caring for his home. Marshall was an avid reader and belonged to Friends of the Library. One of his favorite things in life was his dog, Benji. Marshall and Benji enjoyed countless walks together as Benji truly served as man’s best friend and travel companion. Described as a family man and caring human being, Marshall loved others. That is why the last five years have been so difficult for those he loved and those who loved him in return as Marshall battled dementia. He has also dealt with the consequences of Agent Orange for the majority of his life having his first major heart surgery, a quadruple by-pass at the age of 32. Marshall was truly loved by his family and has been cared for greatly by family, friends and the staff at the Claremore VA Center. Marshall is survived by: his sister, Mary “Pat” (Butler) Duerr-Weber and her husband, Jurgen of Charlotte, North Carolina; children: Jerry Butler and wife, Laurie of North Little Rock, Arkansas; Valerie Butler of McKinney, Texas; Karen Butler and Jimmie Bingham of Claremore and Danny Butler also of Claremore. He is also survived by nephews: Robert Paul Baldwin of Morresville, NC and Edward Christian Duerr of Pittsburg, PA; cousins: Mary (Butler) Chapman and Henry Stuart Butler, Jr. of Virginia; along with numerous grandchildren, other nieces, nephews and relatives. He was preceded in death by: his parents; his wife, Bettie; a sister and brother-in-law, Susan (Butler) Baldwin and Charles Baldwin; and a nephew, Scott Marshall Duerr.
Visitation: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Monday, June 20th, 2016
Funeral: 1:00 PM Monday, June 20th, 2016
Interment: Monday, June 20th, 2016 http://ricefuneralservice.com/obituarydetails.aspx?did=20b621f8-96cb-443e-8f7c-94fa36e0cf39 |
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