John Michael Butterfield

John Michael Butterfield passed away suddenly, Friday morning, July 10, 2015 at home in Katy, Texas, with his wife by his side. John was the second of four children born to Janeane and Buddie Butterfield, on April 30, 1955, in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

John grew up in Overland Park, KS, achieved Eagle Scout status, and graduated from Shawnee Mission North High School. He completed his BS in Political Science at Kansas University. At Kansas University, John received a track scholarship and was a 1977 Big Eight Conference Indoor Track Championship team member. John was also a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity at KU and served as Rush Chairman.

John worked for TURCK, Inc. as Business Development Manager specializing in Process Automation for 8 years and previously held the position of National Sales Manager at Sparling Instruments.

John's great joy was his family. He was a loving father and husband, who always put his children and wife first and took great pride in his children's accomplishments. John coached his daughter's Katy Youth basketball teams and was a Cub Scout leader for Thomas. John loved to be out on a ski boat, water skiing with family or friends and was a fantastic slalom skier. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a kind generous heart. He was a John Wayne fan and embodied the same qualities of strength of character, integrity, high moral values, and patriotism. John was a member of the Abdallah Shriners, Overland Park, KS and a member of the Kansas Freemasons Lenexa Lodge.

John is survived by wife LuAnn Ellis Butterfield, children Thomas and Christine Butterfield, sisters Laura Morford of Lenexa, Kansas, Theresa Ritter of Independence, MO and Joy Butterfield of Overland Park, KS, nieces Anne Berry, Kate Berry Grace, nephew Bryant Thomas, niece Eryn Thomas, grandniece Maleyleh, grandnephew Isaak, grandnephew Ethan, brother in law Kirk Ritter, sister in law Susan Berry, brother in law Dr. John Berry,

Funeral services in Katy, TX will be held Friday, July 17th at 2:00 pm at the Williams House Second Baptist Church West Campus, 19449 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX, 77094; with a reception immediately following at the Williams House. Funeral Services in Kansas City will take place at D.W. Newcomers Sons White Chapel, 6600 NE Antioch Rd., Gladstone, MO 64119 on Monday, July 20 at 1:30 pm with internment immediately following at the White Chapel Cemetery.

Donations may be made to any one of these funds: Second Baptist Church-Second Loves Kids, 19449 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77094; a Memorial in the name of John Michael Butterfield has been set up to benefit the Kansas University Track and Field Scholarship Program. Donations may be made to: KU Endowment, P.O. Box 928, Lawrence, KS, 66044-0928. Donations may also be made online at: kuendowment.org/give.