Our dad, Gary Townsend Butts, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family and closest friends on Saturday, July 18, 2015. He left for his very much deserved Heavenly home to the sound of our I love yous and his favorite songs. His wishes were to grieve him a little but to move on. We will always look for the brightness of each day with his favorite Beatles song in our ears-Here comes the sun ….here comes the sun and I say, it’s alright.
Our dad had very bravely battled a severe case of rheumatoid arthritis and COPD over the last decade. We thing we can safely say that his strength and courage was an amazement to anyone he encountered. We know he was many a person’s hero.
Our dad was born June 30, 1947 to Townsend and Mildred Butts in Lampasas, TX. He met the love of his life (our momma), Linda Ann Scott while attending Howard Payne University. Upon his graduation with a Bachelor of Business Administration, they were married. Shortly thereafter, their love story began in San Diego, CA where my dad proudly served his country for the next four years in the United States Navy. Upon their return to Brownwood (where our dad said he couldn’t wait to get back to), he began working at Weakly-Watson before starting his career with the City of Brownwood in the finance department. He tirelessly worked his way from Finance Director to Deputy City Manager. Upon the retirement of Virgil Gray, whom he greatly admired, he was appointed City Manager until his retirement in 2005. While working for the city, he also served for 31 years as a board member of TML Intergovernmental Employees Benefits Risk Pool.
Our dad loved fishing, boating and time with his family and friends. And anyone who knew him knew how much he loved Sci-Fi movies, especially Star Trek. No telling how many times we had had to listen to the sound track at the beginning of Star Trek at full blast on the stereo.
Our dad was a Master Mason and member of Indian Creek Masonic Lodge #807 AF&AM, as well as a member of the Suez Shrine Temple of San Angelo, TX.
He is survived by his lovely bride, Linda Butts of Brownwood; his daughter, Shanna Hendrix of Austin, TX; his son, James and wife Jill Butts of Brownwood and their children, Jamie, Erik, Lainee, Lyrik and Karter; his sister Kathy Douglas and her husband Scott of San Antonio, TX; and nephews, Kyle and Devin Douglas and their families. And last, but NEVER least, his #1 friendo-Warren Studdard and #1 Friendette Cheryl Studdard of San Antonio, TX.
A memorial service to honor his amazing life will be held Saturday, August 1, 2015, at 9:00am, at Davis-Morris Funeral Home. Our dad requested a private family burial afterwards at Greenleaf Cemetery immediately following. He will be honored with a Masonic burial.
To help honor the great country that he loved, we, the family asks that any donations be made in his name to the Wounded Warrior Foundation, local VA, or Shriner’s Children’s Hospital.
We love you, Daddy-Shanna and James