DOROTHY BURKE BUTCHER

Dorothy (Dot) Elaine Burke Butcher, age 89, passed away after a brief illness early on Saturday morning, October 24, in Bardstown, KY where she had lived since October 2018. Funeral services for Mrs. Butcher will be held on Friday, October 30, 2020 at 2:00 PM at Friendship United Methodist Church in Donalsonville, GA with the Rev. Kirk Loyless officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at 1:00 PM at the church. Interment will be held following the service at Friendship Cemetery. All are welcome to attend either or bother services. Dot was born August 26, 1931 in Donalsonville, GA to Susie and Bill Burke. After graduating from FDR High School, she moved to Atlanta where she lived with her sister, Sybil, and began working in Southern Bell’s accounting office. From there she transferred to Toledo, OH to live with her sister, Vivian. It was in Toledo that she met her husband, George. They were married on April 15, 1950 and celebrated 66 years together before George died on September 28, 2016. While her sons were young, she developed a school lunch program in her home for children who lived too close to school to have transportation home yet were too far from home to walk. At times there were over 20 additional children being fed. After her youngest son was in high school, she began a very successful career as a cosmetics consultant for Elizabeth Arden. She organized many Red Door events in Toledo with their creative consultant, Glenn Roberts. One year after a particularly successful event she and George were awarded a cruise to Alaska. Dot was very active at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Toledo with the Bishop Chase Guild. She spent many Christmas and Easter mornings in the kitchen preparing and serving breakfasts to the ministers, choir members and acolytes between those services. After she and George retired, they moved back to Donalsonville and joined Friendship United Methodist Church. They continued to be active in church life there and Dot was so humbled to be awarded the church’s highest annual honor, the “Quiet Disciple” award. For years they assisted with the distribution of the church bulletin and delivered Meals-on-Wheels. She leaves to cherish her memory, her sons Mike Butcher and husband, Gary Johnson of Phoenix, AZ, Dave Butcher and wife, Nancy, of Delta, OH, Don Butcher and wife, Denise, of Woodstock, MD and Steve Butcher and wife, Leah, of Bardstown, KY; eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Maxine (Tyke) Burke Nealy of Ocean City, NJ. Dot was blessed with many nieces and nephews who have been a very important part of her life, as well as a blessing to the entire family. Dot was preceded in death by her husband, George; her parents, Susie and Bill Burke and siblings, Vivian Burke Endicott, Sybil Burke Geeslin Kennedy, Gene Burke, D.L. (Muggs) Burke and Charles Burke. If you wish to make a donation in Dot’s memory, the Butcher family suggests the Manna Drop program at Friendship United Methodist Church, Manna Drop, PO Box 305, Donalsonville, GA 39845.