Patricia Louise Butler

Patricia greeted the world on a frosty winter day, Wednesday, December 8, 1937, in New York. She was the first and only child of Lillian and Edgar Payne. Edgar worked on the railroads when tragedy struck: Patricia was only eight when her mother passed away, and his family gathered to help him do what was best for Patricia and care for his precious little girl.

Her grandparents, Alice and Victor, were both born in the West Indies before migrating to New York in the early 1900s. Her Grandma kept her safe and loved, and together they took the train to Seattle, where she stayed with Aunt Lenear, Uncle Stanley, and their children: Alma, Stanetta, Marsha, Carol, Hattie, and Stanley, Jr. Her cousins became inseparable, no longer merely cousins, but sisters. They attended church and school together, and loved sharing girlish secrets. Each summer, her mother’s sister, Aunt Mildred, came from New York to check on her studies, offer encouragement, and slip her a small allowance. Those visits were anchors of love she looked forward to all year.

After graduating from Garfield High School, she trained as a licensed nurse practitioner, beginning a lifelong devotion to caring for others. She later continued her education at Western Washington University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Urban Health Resources in 1980 and was honored with the Outstanding Graduate Award.

She married Jerome Arthur Despinasse Butler. They raised twins, Victor and Victoria Butler. As a longtime member of Mount Zion Baptist Church, Patricia found her peace in the chapel, especially when the choir lifted its voices in song. Among the hymns that moved her most was In the Garden, a song she carried close to her heart. She enjoyed Sunday School, supported the Women’s Ministry, and participated in the Rebecca Circle. She also served faithfully in other areas of the church until she was no longer able to do so.

She began her career as a surgical technician at Children's Orthopedic Hospital (now Seattle Children’s Hospital). She then transitioned to the satellite Odessa Brown Children's Clinic, under Dr. Blanche Lavizzo, as a Financial Health Counselor. She served as a Student Academic Advisor at Seattle Central Community College.

Her father married Violet Chapman in 1951, and together they welcomed two daughters, Deborah and Paulette. When Uncle Stanley passed away in 1963, Edgar gathered his family and moved to Seattle to care for Grandma, whose long and loving presence blessed the family until she passed at 101.

In 1984, while coordinating special events at the East Cherry YWCA, she and Sadikifu Akina-James co-founded Seattle’s Black College Fair. For more than twenty years, thousands of Pacific Northwest students benefited from this annual event featuring representatives from historically Black colleges and universities. She retired as an Academic Counselor from the University of Washington Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity.

Her commitment to education, community outreach, and empowering families showed in the circles she chose to serve. She poured her energy into the Seattle Affiliate of the National Black Child Development Institute and the Seattle Section of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc., always showing up where she felt she could make a difference. She was also a proud Soror of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Delta Psi Sigma Chapter.

For over fifty years, until the Lord called her beloved husband home, they built a life rooted in family and community. Jerome encouraged Patricia to do what she loved: helping others reach their fullest potential academically, socially, and spiritually.

With her calm and nurturing presence, Patricia knew how to connect people to their purpose. She moved with quiet influence among her community. Making even the simplest movements meaningful. She made the most of every opportunity to grow as a person and prepare the way for others to follow. Wise, talented, and known for her dry wit, she brought grace to everything she touched.

She loved counseling, gardening, sewing, and knitting clothes for herself and others, and she cherished sharing meals with friends in fine restaurants. A devoted reader of the Word, she kept her bible close and surrounded herself with a treasured collection of affirming, holistic literature.

Patricia went into the presence of the Lord on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. She has joined the eternal family circle with her husband Jerome; parents Edgar and Lillian; her Aunts Mildred and Doris, her niece Renee; and her sister-cousins Alma Bigham and Marsha Evans.

She is survived by daughter Victoria, son Victor; sisters Deborah and Paulette, sister-cousins Stanetta, Carol, Hattie, brother-cousin Stanley; sister-in-law Linda, and numerous loving relatives and close friends who loved her dearly.

Patricia, a valued community treasure, will be greatly missed by all who knew her.