Essie May Wells Butler

BUTLER, Essie May (nee Wells) 94, of St. Louis, MO, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on March 19, 2015. She was the loving daughter of the late George and Bertha (nee Prater) Wells; beloved wife of the late Vernon Phillips and Dawson Butler; loving mother of Edna (Eddie) Russell, Mary (Ron) Williams and the late Junior Phillips; dear grandmother of Marsha (Jim) Vargas, Mark Williams, Mike Williams, Mitch (Lisa) Williams, Joyce (James) Blake, Linda Griffin, Keith (Susan) Phillips, Joe (Jenni) Phillips and Kevin (Dove) Phillips; beloved great grandmother of Jimmy (Lisa), Michael, April, Lucus, Ashley, Katie, Courtney and Zackery; loving great great grandmother of Anthony, Ashley, Mackenzie, Lacey, Corey, Matt, Dawson, Chenoa and Alihanna; dear great great great grandmother of A. J., Gage, Kyla, Mason and Serenity; dear aunt, cousin and friend to many.

Essie was a devoted mother and grandmother. She was hard working woman and a woman of great faith. Essie loved to cook and there was always room for more at the table. After a long life of devotion to her faith and her family, she heard the master calling her home. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11: 28-30)

Services: A visitation will be held from 3-7p.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2015 at Hoffmeister South County Chapel, 1515 Lemay Ferry Rd., Lemay, MO 63125. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home chapel at 1:00 p.m., March 23, 2015. Interment will take place in Mt. Hope Cemetery. In memory of Essie contributions are encouraged to the American Cancer Society, 4207 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108 or American Diabetes Association, 425 South Woods Mill Road, Town and Country, MO 63017. Family and friends are invited to share memories and condolences at www.hoffmeistersouthcounty.com