SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Roy Donald Butler went home to be with his Lord on Sept. 2, 2018, following complications from surgery to repair a broken leg.
Roy was born April 24, 1933, in Lingle to Helen and Hugh Allen Butler on their family farm.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Billy, Ted and John, and; daughter, Laurie Jo, who died at 5 days old.
Roy is survived by his wife, Jo, daughters, Tracie Woodard, husband Jay, Kim Butler and husband Forest Hopson, four grandchildren, Cody and Kelly Burroughs, Rebecca Licciardi , husband Vincent Licciardi and Bailey Murphy, great-grandchildren, Gavin and Presley Burroughs, and Luciano Licciardi, and brothers, Hughie, George, Glen and Jerry.
Roy graduated with the Lingle High School class of 1951. He earned an undergraduate degree in agricultural education from the University of Wyoming and a master’s degree in Education from the University of Nevada–Reno.
While attending the University of Wyoming , Roy went on a blind date and met Pinky Jo Clingenpeel, who became the love of his life. They married Sept. 5, 1954. They had two children, Tracie and Kim.
In 1956 Roy was drafted into the Army, serving two years.
Roy taught Vocational Agriculture at Duck Valley High School on the Shoshone-Paiute Indian Reservation in Owyhee, Nev. He was the superintendent of the Main Station Field Lab at the University of Nevada at Reno for many years.
Wanting to move their family closer to their roots, Roy and Jo returned to the farm in Lingle. With his brother, Glen, he started a business, Butler and Butler Quality Cube. He worked with his brother for four years until back problems forced him retire from farming
Roy later took a position at Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington, where he taught agricultural and diesel mechanics.
Upon retirement, Roy and Jo bought an RV and got involved with SOWERs, Servants On Wheels Ever Ready, a ministry program dedicated to helping Christian nonprofit organizations, as members of teams that helped rebuild and repair facilities on projects all over the United States. Roy was able to repair just about anything. These talents made him especially valued in the SOWER ministry.
They moved to Canyon Lake, Texas, for a rest in 2013. Roy was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. After two years of treatment, he was in remission.
They moved to San Antonio in 2015, to be closer to doctors and treatment facilities.
Roy had a keen sense of humor. His brothers and he were always entertaining family and friends with stories of growing up on the farm. He was proud of being a farm kid.
A memorial service was held Sept. 8, 2018, at Fellowship Bible Church in San Antonio. Donations can be made to Gracie’s Promise in Roy’s honor.
