British Columbia to George Howard Waters and Jean Fortune Muir Waters. The family,
which also included a brother, Ken, lived in Point Roberts, Washington. Vancouver BC
was the nearest hospital. From the age of 9 until graduating from Magee High
School, Toodie lived in Vancouver BC during the week with her Uncle Ed and Auntie
Catherine Wilson. Her cousins Cash and Marilou Wilson became her sisters. She had
many fond memories and felt that she developed her sense of humor and learned
good manners while living there.
After high school she got a secretarial job at Western Washington University.
One Saturday night she went to the Burlington Strawberry Festival with some
friends. That is where she met Vern Butts. He had already signed up to go into the
Marines and so soon after he was off to basic training. In 1944, at age 20, she took
a train by herself across country to Florida where they were married before Vern
left to go overseas. A marriage which lasted 73 years.
After the war, they moved to Portland, Oregon where Vern taught PE and
Health and coached at Grant High School. Toodie was an ”At Home Mom” until it was
time to help the kids go to college. She worked as a school secretary at several
schools in Portland. Besides raising 4 children, she volunteered for PTA, spent 2
years as a Campfire Girls leader, belonged to Coaches Wives, played Bridge, was a
regular member and spent countless hours volunteering at St Mathews Episcopal
Church in Parkrose. In retirement Toodie also volunteered for the S.M.A.R.T. Program
and Meals on Wheels.
Almost every summer Vern and Toodie would take the kids to Point Roberts to
stay with Toodie’s mother. Shortly before Vern retired in 1980, they built their own
cottage in South Beach. For the next 30 years they spent their summers at that
“little piece of heaven”. They always loved having family and friends come to visit.
She was always a wonderful, welcoming, fun-loving, gracious and classy lady.
Dorothea Jean “Toodie” Waters Butts died peacefully in her sleep at age 96 on
February 10, 2020. She was predeceased by her husband, Vern. She is survived by
her children Kathleen Farlow (Larry), Michael Butts (Vicki), Jeffrey Butts (Kimberly),
and Christopher Butts (Monique). Her grandchildren Jesse Butts, Katie Uhacz
(Andrew), Zack Butts and Brandon Butts. Her great grandchildren Landon and Mason Uhacz.
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