Elizabeth Hutto Butler

Mary Elizabeth Hutto Butler (“Lib”) went to be with her Lord on November 24, 2014. She was a beloved and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was the epitome of the Proverbs 31 wife and a true southern lady who always put others before herself. Lib was preceded in death by her husband, William O. (“Cracker”) Butler, Jr., to whom she was married for 70 years, and an infant daughter, Marletta. She is survived by her daughters, Laurice Kirkham and husband, Bob, of Sweet Water, AL; Linda Coleman and husband, Joe, of Marietta, GA; and her son Bill Butler and wife, Barbara, of Lake Martin, AL; six grandchildren: Jimmy Thomas and wife, Laurie, of Lafayette, IN; Lisa Knight and husband, “Bo”, of Wetumpka, AL; Lauren Whitfield and husband, Grant, of Atlanta, GA, Ashley Gimbel and husband, John, of Carrboro, NC, Becky Sharp and husband, Jimmy, of Opelika, AL and Will Butler of Birmingham, AL; and nine great-grandchildren: Josiah, Nathanael, Rebekah and Ethan Thomas of Lafayette, IN; Turner, Helen and Hunter Knight of Wetumpka, AL and Lily and John Butler Sharp of Opelika, AL.

Lib Butler was born February 21, 1919, in Blackville, SC, to S. Jeter Hutto and Myrtie Birt Hutto. She grew up in Denmark, SC, and was educated in the Denmark public schools. After business school, she was employed by the federal government in the Regional Farm Security office in Montgomery, AL, where she met her future husband. They were married October 18, 1941, at First Baptist Church, by Dr. Frank Tripp. They were active members at First Baptist Church for over 70 years. At First Baptist, Lib was a member of the Seekers Sunday School Class and the WMU. She was Superintendent of the six-year-old Sunday School department for many years and served with the In-Home Ministry for 40 years. She was past president of the Bellingrath School PTO; a member of the Fleur de Lis Garden Club; a board member of the Montgomery YMCO; member and past regent of the Anne Phillips Chapter, National Daughters of the American Revolution; member and officer of the National Society Colonial Dames 17th Century; and a member of the Magna Charta Dames.

Dr. Jay Wolf will conduct the service on Sunday, November 30, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. from Leak Memory Chapel. Visitation will be held one hour before the service. Burial will follow in Magnolia Cemetery in Greenville, AL, on Monday, December 1, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.

Pallbearers will be Will Butler, Bo Knight, Josiah, Nathanael and Ethan Thomas, Turner and Hunter Knight. Honorary pallbearers will be members and past members of the Seekers Sunday School class, Dr. H. Walker Brown and George Smith

The family would like to thank her past and present caregivers, especially Karen Skinner, Julia Tyes, Shirley Pressley, Carol Wyckoff, Yolanda Taylor, Chenita Arrington and Sandra Curry; and all the employees of John Knox at Home and Gentiva Hospice.

Because Lib loved flowers and gardening, floral tributes will be accepted or memorials may be made to the Alabama Baptist Children’s Home, P.O. Box 361767, Birmingham, AL 35236; the Buck Mason Scholarship Fund, First Baptist Church, 305 S. Perry St., Montgomery, AL 36104; or a charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.leak-mc.com

Arrangements under the direction of Leak Memory Chapel, Montgomery, AL.