Elbert “Don“ Butler was born August 4, 1943 in the family home in Lubbock, Texas to Alice and Emmitt Butler. He passed away March 9 2016 at Elk City, Oklahoma at the age of 72 years, seven months and five days.
Don grew up in the Lubbock, Texas area and attended a small rural school graduating in 1961. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served two tours in Vietnam. During his time of service, he was captured and was a prisoner of war (POW) for 18 months and sustained injuries to his arm. Upon returning stateside he was selected to serve as part of the honor guard detail for President Kennedy’s funeral. After his discharge in 1965, Don returned to Tyler, Texas with his parents where they enjoyed living by the lake and he began his career as an electrician. Don worked for Zimmerman Electric Company building and installing business signage and continued with them until the late 1990s when he moved to Cheyenne to be near his sisters. He found employment with the Cheyenne Nursing Home and worked tirelessly on their electrical needs until his retirement in 2001. Don was married to Frances (McClellan) Butler at New Liberty, Oklahoma on January 4, 2002 and they made their home east of Roll, Oklahoma. Don and Frances loved to travel, tending to their animals and taking care of their 110 pound “pup” Dakota.
He was preceded in death by parents and 9 brothers and sisters.
He is survived by his wife, Frances of the home; sister-in-law, Donna Porter and husband, Billy, Reydon, Oklahoma; special nieces, Hope and Gina Porter, Reydon, Oklahoma; step-daughter, Lori Weems and family, Woodward, Oklahoma; niece, Sammy Merwin and family, Cheyenne, Oklahoma; brother-in-law, Bob Zabriskie, Montpelier, Idaho; brother-in-law, Dale McClellan, Erick, Oklahoma; granddaughter, Ashley Kanzenbach and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services will be held Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at Reydon Community Church officiated by Dr. Alberta Helton. Services are under the direction of Rose Chapel Funeral Service, Cheyenne and condolences may be made online at www.whineryfs.com
Cheyenne Star, March 17, 2016