John Roberts Butler

John Roberts Butler, 70, died Tuesday, July 26, 2011, with his wife Betty at his side after a nine-month battle with liver cancer.

Funeral services were held Saturday, July 30, at First United Methodist Church of Gilmer with graveside services following at Humboldt Cemetery in Commerce, Texas.

John was born on February 4, 1941, in Memphis, Texas, to Luther and Rachael (Roberts) Butler of Lelia Lake, Texas.

He attended Lelia Lake schools and Clarendon College. John married in 1959 and had two children—Janice and Robert. He was a Texas Highway Patrolman for five years, was an insurance agency owner for 37 years, and was recently retired.

John married the love of his life Betty Ostenson of Greenville on August 31, 2003. John was a 32nd-degree Mason and member of the Clarendon Lodge #700 AF & AM. He served on the Board of Directors of the Gilmer Country Club and his favorite activity for the last year was staying in his RV with his wife at Johnson Creek on Lake O’ The Pines.

John is survived by his beloved wife of eight years, Betty Butler; daughter and son-in-law Janice and Terry Maragakis of Dallas; sons and daughter-in-law.
Robert and Shari Butler of Leander, Texas and Matt Lane of Gilmer; sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Mike Gilger of Perryton ; brother, Jimmy Butler of Corpus Christi; five grandchildren, Shea, Austin, Rachael, Alex and Brian; two great grandchildren and many wonderful sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews.

Please leave online condolences at www.croleyfh.net