Sandra Butts

Sandra Kay Butts went to be with her Savior on September 21st, 2021, after an intense period of mourning for her husband, Tony Butts. Although the official cause of death was Heart Disease, it was concluded that she in fact died of a broken heart – unable to recover after the loss of her husband, Tony. She was 73 years old, leaving us just one month shy of her 74th birthday.

A 1966 graduate of Childersburg High School, the former Sandra Tanner married Tony Butts shortly after graduation. Daughter’s Kelley (Stevens) and Rae (Sells) completed the family. At the time of their passing, they had recently celebrated 55 years of marriage.

Sandra was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church in Childersburg until the family moved to Elizabethton, Tennessee in the summer of 1986, leaving behind a lifetime of close friends and family. Although she missed Childersburg terribly, the family joined First Baptist Church of Elizabethton, Tennessee and Sandra became involved in many civic clubs and organizations in her new community, and developed friendships that lasted the rest of her life. She was a naturally gifted interior decorator, and gardener, and shared her gifts with her friends and family through the beautiful spaces she created. She loved spending time with her grandchildren as much as possible. As their health began to fail and it became obvious they would soon need more help, Tony and Sandra moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, where they remained until the Lord called them home.

Sandra was preceded in death by her husband Tony O. Butts, and her parents; Edna and Shellie Tanner, Sr. She is survived by daughters Kelley Butts Stevens (Craig Stevens) and Rae Butts Sells (Jon Sells) by grandchildren; Katie Stevens (25), Nick Stevens (22), Jack Stevens (18), Ella Sells (14), and Charleigh Sells (8), and her brother, Shellie Tanner, Jr.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a private service was held. If you wish to make a gift in honor of Sandra’s memory, the family suggests a memorial gift to Calvary Baptist Church of Childersburg, Alabama. We are so grateful for your prayers at this time.