Lilian J. Butler, 96, passed away Tuesday, March 1, 2005, at Ferrell Hospital in Eldorado.
She was born April 20, 1908, near Mathews, Mo., the oldest daughter of William Robert Birch and Essie Mae Garrett Birch. The Birch family moved to Eldorado when Lilian was a young girl. She was the last known surviving member of her 1927 high school class.
Mrs. Butler attended Southern Illinois University and began teaching in 1928 in the Eldorado school system. Her salary that school year was $630. For many years she taught fifth grade at Washington School. In August 1958, Lilian graduated from McKendree College in Lebanon and in 1961 was selected to become the Washington School principal. She was proud to be the first female administrator in the region and retired from this position in June 1972.
Lilian had a lifelong affection for flowers. She was active in the Eldorado Garden Study Club and became a licensed flower show judge. In this position she judged at flower shows throughout central and Southern Illinois. Her own gardens received numerous awards and have been admired in garden tours and shows. Always active in the United Methodist Church and the community, she was a member of Eastern Star and Home Extension as well.
Lilian Butler was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters; Wilbern T. "Bill" Butler, her husband of 57 years; one son, David Garrett "Gary" Butler; and a son-in-law, Robert Gale Lovellette.
She is survived by Robert M. "Mac" Butler (Kaye Taylor), Judith Ann "Judy" Lovellette; daughter-in-law, Barbara Jean Butler; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be at the Watson Funeral Home in Eldorado 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 4, 2005. The funeral service will be conducted by the Rev. John Kraps at the Watson Funeral Home 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5, 2005. Interment will follow at the Lindale Memorial Cemetery, Eldorado.
Memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church, Eldorado.
Always a teacher, she stated at her retirement, "I hope I have been able to make some contribution toward making better citizens of the children with whom I have been in contact."
Certainly, she accomplished this goal.
Daily Register March 3, 2005*
She was born April 20, 1908, near Mathews, Mo., the oldest daughter of William Robert Birch and Essie Mae Garrett Birch. The Birch family moved to Eldorado when Lilian was a young girl. She was the last known surviving member of her 1927 high school class.
Mrs. Butler attended Southern Illinois University and began teaching in 1928 in the Eldorado school system. Her salary that school year was $630. For many years she taught fifth grade at Washington School. In August 1958, Lilian graduated from McKendree College in Lebanon and in 1961 was selected to become the Washington School principal. She was proud to be the first female administrator in the region and retired from this position in June 1972.
Lilian had a lifelong affection for flowers. She was active in the Eldorado Garden Study Club and became a licensed flower show judge. In this position she judged at flower shows throughout central and Southern Illinois. Her own gardens received numerous awards and have been admired in garden tours and shows. Always active in the United Methodist Church and the community, she was a member of Eastern Star and Home Extension as well.
Lilian Butler was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters; Wilbern T. "Bill" Butler, her husband of 57 years; one son, David Garrett "Gary" Butler; and a son-in-law, Robert Gale Lovellette.
She is survived by Robert M. "Mac" Butler (Kaye Taylor), Judith Ann "Judy" Lovellette; daughter-in-law, Barbara Jean Butler; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be at the Watson Funeral Home in Eldorado 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 4, 2005. The funeral service will be conducted by the Rev. John Kraps at the Watson Funeral Home 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5, 2005. Interment will follow at the Lindale Memorial Cemetery, Eldorado.
Memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church, Eldorado.
Always a teacher, she stated at her retirement, "I hope I have been able to make some contribution toward making better citizens of the children with whom I have been in contact."
Certainly, she accomplished this goal.
Daily Register March 3, 2005*
Lilian J. Butler, 96, passed away Tuesday, March 1, 2005, at Ferrell Hospital in Eldorado.
She was born April 20, 1908, near Mathews, Mo., the oldest daughter of William Robert Birch and Essie Mae Garrett Birch. The Birch family moved to Eldorado when Lilian was a young girl. She was the last known surviving member of her 1927 high school class.
Mrs. Butler attended Southern Illinois University and began teaching in 1928 in the Eldorado school system. Her salary that school year was $630. For many years she taught fifth grade at Washington School. In August 1958, Lilian graduated from McKendree College in Lebanon and in 1961 was selected to become the Washington School principal. She was proud to be the first female administrator in the region and retired from this position in June 1972.
Lilian had a lifelong affection for flowers. She was active in the Eldorado Garden Study Club and became a licensed flower show judge. In this position she judged at flower shows throughout central and Southern Illinois. Her own gardens received numerous awards and have been admired in garden tours and shows. Always active in the United Methodist Church and the community, she was a member of Eastern Star and Home Extension as well.
Lilian Butler was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters; Wilbern T. "Bill" Butler, her husband of 57 years; one son, David Garrett "Gary" Butler; and a son-in-law, Robert Gale Lovellette.
She is survived by Robert M. "Mac" Butler (Kaye Taylor), Judith Ann "Judy" Lovellette; daughter-in-law, Barbara Jean Butler; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be at the Watson Funeral Home in Eldorado 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 4, 2005. The funeral service will be conducted by the Rev. John Kraps at the Watson Funeral Home 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5, 2005. Interment will follow at the Lindale Memorial Cemetery, Eldorado.
Memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church, Eldorado.
Always a teacher, she stated at her retirement, "I hope I have been able to make some contribution toward making better citizens of the children with whom I have been in contact."
Certainly, she accomplished this goal.
Daily Register March 3, 2005*
She was born April 20, 1908, near Mathews, Mo., the oldest daughter of William Robert Birch and Essie Mae Garrett Birch. The Birch family moved to Eldorado when Lilian was a young girl. She was the last known surviving member of her 1927 high school class.
Mrs. Butler attended Southern Illinois University and began teaching in 1928 in the Eldorado school system. Her salary that school year was $630. For many years she taught fifth grade at Washington School. In August 1958, Lilian graduated from McKendree College in Lebanon and in 1961 was selected to become the Washington School principal. She was proud to be the first female administrator in the region and retired from this position in June 1972.
Lilian had a lifelong affection for flowers. She was active in the Eldorado Garden Study Club and became a licensed flower show judge. In this position she judged at flower shows throughout central and Southern Illinois. Her own gardens received numerous awards and have been admired in garden tours and shows. Always active in the United Methodist Church and the community, she was a member of Eastern Star and Home Extension as well.
Lilian Butler was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters; Wilbern T. "Bill" Butler, her husband of 57 years; one son, David Garrett "Gary" Butler; and a son-in-law, Robert Gale Lovellette.
She is survived by Robert M. "Mac" Butler (Kaye Taylor), Judith Ann "Judy" Lovellette; daughter-in-law, Barbara Jean Butler; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be at the Watson Funeral Home in Eldorado 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 4, 2005. The funeral service will be conducted by the Rev. John Kraps at the Watson Funeral Home 2 p.m. Saturday, March 5, 2005. Interment will follow at the Lindale Memorial Cemetery, Eldorado.
Memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church, Eldorado.
Always a teacher, she stated at her retirement, "I hope I have been able to make some contribution toward making better citizens of the children with whom I have been in contact."
Certainly, she accomplished this goal.
Daily Register March 3, 2005*
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