Carroll Ray Butler, Sr., born June 29, 1943 in Brownwood, Texas, passed away July 31, 2016 at his longtime home and family ranch on the outskirts of Blanket, Texas. Visitation is set for Friday, August 5, 2016, at Davis-Morris Funeral Home, from 6-8 p.m. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m, Saturday, August 6, 2016, in the Davis-Morris Funeral Home Chapel.
After returning from the war in 1966, he went back to work at Weakley-Watson in Brownwood, where he had worked during high school, now serving as a purchasing agent. He was a loyal and trusted employee of the Blagg family, the owners of the Weakley-Watson. They have remained lifelong friends. While working there, he also enrolled in Howard Payne University, working on a degree in Business. Later that year he met the love of his life, Lanita Chesser of Mullin at Lyons drive-in in Brownwood. They married that same year. In 1968 Carroll and Lanita purchased a small farm and ranch between Blanket and Early, where they made their home and raised their family. Their house was often home to not only their three sons, but a second home to many of the kids in the community of Blanket. It was a common gathering point for many of the kids of Blanket, where his wife, Lanita, often just counted heads in the morning of kids asleep in the living room before making breakfast.
In the late 1970s Carroll joined G&M Plumbing Supply as an owner and partner in the company. Carroll operated G&M Plumbing supply for almost 20 years, while managing his small cattle farm, and wrangling the myriad of young boys and girls from Blanket who were friends of his three sons. He was also an active member of the Blanket Lions Club and coached the Blanket Little League baseball team.
He was an avid fisherman and hunter who taught his sons the value of hard work and the joys of nature. In the mid 1990s a declining market took its toll on G&M Plumbing Supply. Carroll recognized the changing market, and reorganized his business into Butler Pump, a water well service. He transformed from a businessman in slacks and a button down shirt, to a man personally on the scene in cut off blue jean shorts, wading into Lake Brownwood to repair a broken well pump, or in the middle of nowhere, pulling a well so that his client could restore water to their home day or night. Carroll operated Butler Pump until 2009, when he retired so he could enjoy time with Lanita, his sons and their families.
Carroll was preceded in death by his parents, Elisha Andrew and Mabel Fredonia Butler; his sisters and their husbands, Monroe and Winnie Mae Allen and Walter and Faye Littlefield; his brother Clyde Butler, and sister-in-law Shirlee Butler.
He is survived by his loving wife of almost 50 years, Lanita; his 3 sons: Carroll Ray Butler, Jr. and wife Michele of Kerrville, Nathan Butler of San Angelo, and Charlie Butler and wife Rachel of Kerrville; his 6 grandchildren Paige Carroll, Meg Eleanor, Benjamin Charles, Macy Nicole, Hannah Lucy and Madison Ellen; brothers Clifford Butler of Highlands Ranch, Colorado and Curtis Butler of Zephyr, Texas; and brothers and sisters-in-law Albert and Janita Evans of Mullin, Ivan and Linda Chesser of Mullin, Clinton Chesser of Snyder and Natha Butler of Round Rock; and numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers the family would like to request a monetary donation be made the Blanket Community Center Restoration Project. Attn: Clint Tunnell P.O. Box 38 Blanket, TX 76432.
