Dianne Butler

Dianne (Mathis) Butler died March 2, 2013, at Homecare and Hospice in Manhattan, Kansas. Born September 20, 1938, in Harrisburg, Illinois, to Herbert and Susie (Williams) Mathis, who preceded her in death. She attended the University of Illinois and Parkland College. Dianne married Jack D. Butler, June 9, 1957. He preceded her in death January 1, 1992. Dianne worked in the family's small grocery store from age 10 to 17. Later on she was a school bus driver in Larimer County, Colorado. She loved and enjoyed her family and friends, music, reading, sewing, gardening, antiques, environmental conservation, and all of those college graduate students who called her 'Mom.' Following Jack's retirement from the faculty at Colorado State University in 1987, they moved to Bay Center, Washington. Dianne was active in local and state politics, serving on the Pacific County Planning Commission, ten years on the Washington State Democratic Central Committee, as a Pacific County Precinct Committee Woman, and as secretary of the 19th Legislative District Democrats. She received the Pacific County 'Democrat of the Year' award. She was pianist at Bay Center Methodist Church until she moved to Astoria, Oregon, in 2001. After moving to Astoria, Dianne joined Pioneer Presbyterian Church on Clatsop Plains, and was active on several committees. She served as both a Deacon and an Elder, and served as Clerk of the Session. She recently resided in Roswell, New Mexico, and Manhattan, Kansas. Survivors include a son, John E. Butler, and his wife, Kathy Scafidi, of Roswell, New Mexico; a daughter, Lisa M.B. Harrington, and her husband, John A. Harrington, Jr., of Manhattan, Kansas, and Bay Center, Washington; two beloved grandsons, Ian and Colin Harrington of Manhattan; sisters-in-law Jean Farkas of Sedalia, Missouri, and Shirley Shelby of Rosiclare, Illinois; and extended family. Visitation will be held at Sloan Funeral Home, Galatia, Illinois, on Friday, March 8th at 11:00am with a graveside service and interment of ashes following at the Raleigh (Illinois) Masonic Cemetery. Memorial gifts to Homecare and Hospice, 3801 Vanesta Drive, Manhattan, Kansas 66503; to Pioneer Presbyterian Church, 33324 Patriot Way, Warrenton, Oregon 97146; or to Bay Center Methodist Church, c/o Janet Wilson, BCUMC Finance Chair, PO Box 356, Bay Center, Washington 98527, would be welcome.