Lee Butler

Lee Butler, 90, of Ottawa, passed away Monday, February 25, 2019, at Richmond Healthcare. A celebration of life will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday, June 22, 2019, at Roberts Hall, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 13th & Maple Streets, Ottawa. Private family inurnment, Waverly Cemetery. Lee was the youngest of three sons born to Freeman and Minnie (Capps) Butler. Born on the family farm near Lakeview, TX on July 25, 1928. He attended school and graduated from Lakeview High in 1945. He moved to Amarillo, TX and started working with Western Electric Company as an installer. He took a short recess from work while he served in the United States Army during the Korean Campaign. He was stationed in Germany and while there he was able to visit many other countries. Lee was united in marriage to June Rickman June 25, 1954, in McPherson, Kansas. They traveled a lot with his work and were able to visit and live in many states. They moved to San Jose, CA in 1956 when daughter JuLee was just a year old, there he became a supervisor of installation with Western Electric. After that, they lived in Fremont, CA for several years while the children were in elementary school. Moving in April of 1969 to Ottawa, KS he continued to work for Western Electric until he retired with 30 years’ service. After retiring from Western Electric, he worked in the Butler’s Florist Greenhouse for several years then purchased Silver Lake Golf near Pomona that he operated until he sold it some years later. Lee joined the Masonic Order Liberty Lodge #299 in Santa Clara, CA in 1957 and received his 50-year pin in 2007 in Ottawa Lodge #18 A.F. & A.M. Lee always loved his dogs and no matter what name they were given they always came when he called “dog”. He enjoyed golfing while his health was good. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Freeman Alexander “F.A.”, Delbert “Zip”; only daughter, JuLee Bowling; and grandson-in-law, Michael Emery. Survivors include his wife June and sons, Brian (Jami) Butler of Lawrence, and Brett (Martha) Butler of Ozawkie; four grandchildren, Crystal Soph-Emery of Overland Park, Ashea Finch of Ottawa, Kevin (Corinne) Butler of Ottawa, and Brooke (Chad) Sheets of Hazleton, PA; six great-grandchildren, Alexis (Christian) McCall, Zachary, Jacee, Ethan, Kingston and Hudson with a 7th soon to arrive; sister-in-law, Patricia Butler; and two nieces and one nephew. Lee loved golf, his dogs, but most of all his family. The family suggests memorial contributions to Good Shepherd Hospice c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, KS 66067.