J.W. Butler
of Wynne, AR
February 21, 1944 - November 29, 2020
John Willie ''J. W.'' Butler, 76, died on Sunday, November 29, 2020, at his home in Wynne, Arkansas. J. W. was born in Dyess, Arkansas, on February 21, 1944, to the late Leo and Maggie Lou Butler. He grew up in a hardworking family in the Hughes and Shell Lake communities.
J. W. was drafted and served in the U. S. Army where he and his family were stationed in Anchorage, Alaska, during the Vietnam era. He hauled equipment before settling in as an over the road truck driver. He worked for Thurston, Brown, SAIA and finished his trucking career with Averitt Express, retiring after 20 years as a team driver with his wife, Mary Alice. During those years he never met a stranger and made many friends on their dedicated run from Jackson, Tennessee, Illinois, and Texas.
J. W. married Mary Alice Benjamin on April 16, 1965. They raised five children, Clayton, John, Angela, Tim, and Jason. His favorite job in later years was being ''Peepaw''. His lap, scooter, and golf cart were always filled with grandbabies and great grandbabies. He and his golf cart visited just about every neighbor in the community of Wittsburg and was jokingly called the ''unofficial mayor of Wittsburg.'' He loved to travel to Branson, wait in line at the school for all his grandbabies, and loved to fly fish when he could. He enjoyed teaching his boys how to fly fish. His love for fishing led him to partner with his sons in 1998 in No. 1 Bait and Tackle and Murkey Water Wholesale Company. He also was invested in Butler Wrecker and Towing. J. W. was a family man and was the best at his jobs of husband, father, peepaw, and father-in-law.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Alice Butler of the home, children, Clayton Billings and wife Audra of Alaska, John Butler and wife Renee', Angela Bratton and husband Garrie, Tim Butler and wife Kaye, and Jason Butler all of Wynne, 12 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, sister, Mary Cupples of West Memphis, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Maggie Butler, great grandchild, Mason Henry Allen Bratton, sister, Kathy Poole, brother, Wayne Butler and nephew, Kenny Poole.
Memorials may be made to St.Jude Children's Research Hospital PO Box 1893 Memphis, TN 38101-9950, online at www.stjude.org or Harris Chapel Cemetery, P. O. Box 586, Wynne, Arkansas 72396.
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Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Citizens Funeral Home
201 North Pine Street
West Memphis, AR 72303
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com