Lloyd Hugh Mounce "Butch"

As I gaze upon his beautiful black horse, Raine, grazing quietly in the green pasture, I think of Butch Mounce. My beloved cowboy always said he should have been born 150 years earlier, living the life of a Texas cowboy, sleeping under a western sky of spangled stars, waking up at day’s first light to the smell of a smoldering campfire as the sounds of creaking saddle leather and a robin’s soft trill break the morning silence.

He loved the cowboy ways and judged others not by the color of their skin or the size of their bank account but only by the content of their heart. He was a reminder to his friends and family that a man can be both strong and gentle, compassionate and fearless while also loving even the quiet moments of sitting in his favorite chair with his old dog Ty by his side. They watched many an old western movie together.

Loving his Bible, many times he was heard crying softly as a certain scripture touched him unexpectedly. He and his Jesus had a special relationship.

Born Lloyd Hugh Mounce in West Fork Arkansas on January 7, 1950 to Loyd Coleman Mounce and Willetta Jean Davis, Butch passed away at Tyler ContinueCARE Hospital on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, succumbing to the Covid Virus. He was 71 years young going on 50.

Besides Fayetteville, AR, his youth was spent in New Mexico and Kansas, arriving in Texas in 1970 where he lived until his death. His years were intermingled with various activities including football, running marathons, rodeo, dancing and softball.

He was an avid artist with paintings on loan to both colleges in Tyler as well as a member of the local Valerosa Gallery. He loved doing patriotic art and as a former Marine, he especially had great affection for all veterans, thanking each one he met, spending time to hear their stories. He was also a volunteer at the newly established CampV in Tyler for all East Texas veterans, donating art for the offices and its annual auction.

As a former actor and stuntman, he worked with Chuck Norris on Walker Texas Ranger, Larry Hagman on Dallas and has played characters in many movies. In his twenties he was a former model in advertising print and television commercials.

As a skilled carpenter and welder, prior to moving to Tyler, he built a log home near Gainesville, TX and built handmade rocking horses for family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Loyd Mounce and step-mother Sarah; his mother Willetta Jean Reynolds and step-father Olen “Shorty”; brothers-in-law Woodrow Johnson of Bokoshe, OK and Steven Cupps of Sherwood, AR; aunt, Charlotte “Chub” Carter of West Fork, AR; and sister, Pat Mudd of Rogers, AR.

Survivors include his wife, Cathy Harbour Mounce of Tyler; children, Nicole Boley and husband Lance of Leander, TX, Stephanie Newman and husband Willie of Farmington, AR, Keegan Mounce and wife Mary of The Woodlands, TX; sisters, Frances Johnson of Bokoshe, OK, Debbie Clevenger and husband Mike of Farmington, AR; Rita Jean Cupps of Sherwood, AR, brother, Troy Reynolds of Fayetteville, AR, and sister, Carol Cassidy of Bella Vista, AR; brother-in-law and sister-in-law W.H. “Scooter” and Judy Harbour of Tyler, TX; aunts, Sue Keene and husband Bob and Betty Painter and husband Dean, all of Fayetteville, AR; seven grandchildren; and numerous nephews and nieces. Dubbed with the moniker of “CowButch”, many of his great-nephews and great-nieces will miss his smiling face under his ever-present cowboy hat.

Butch had plans for many future projects but life took him on a different journey. May we all learn this lesson that all we have is today. Tomorrow is not promised in this life but we are one day closer to seeing him again in Heaven.

He lived his life well and has faced his setting sun. Like the last lines found in a George Strait song,

“Oh the last goodbye’s the hardest one to say

This is where the cowboy rides away.”

Graveside Service will be held at the National Cemetery February 22 at 12:30 p.m., 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, Texas 75211/ Masks required. Number in attendance is limited.

Service will be under the direction of Kevin Burdette, Minister to Sr. Adults, Green Acres Baptist Church.

A celebration of life will be held at future dates in Tyler, TX and Fayetteville, AR.