Bobbie Jean (Fairley) Butler

Bobbie Jean Butler, 84 of McHenry, entered her eternal rest Wednesday evening from her home in McHenry, surrounded by her loving family as usual. Family was so important to her and she loved them and her Lord and Savior more than anything. Bobbie was born February 10, 1937 at the family home outside Wiggins, the oldest of three daughters to Robert and Frances (Pearson) Fairley. She grew up between Wiggins and Bond in the years following the Great Depression, spending a lot of her childhood years with her grandmother, Sarah Jane Schillers. While there, Bobbie spent lots of time gardening, growing and tending the flowers, as well as learning how to cook. She learned so much from her, which made her the wonderful woman she was. She attended school at Wiggins thru the eighth grade and at 15, married Leonard M. Butler, known to most everyone as Pete. They made their home in McHenry and spent their entire lives together, right there on Oak Avenue. Bobbie managed their home as well as the family business, Butler, Inc., dealing in wholesale produce and pecans. While Pete took care of the day to day, she handled the finances and bookkeeping, doing an excellent job at both by the way. It would be literally impossible to count the watermelons, tomatoes and pecans they hauled, handled and distributed through the years. She was a Christian by faith and long-time member at McHenry First Baptist Church, where they both served and raised her family. Pete served as deacon and Bobbie served as the church clerk for 25 years. She is remembered as a quiet, softspoken woman who always told you how it was in a loving way. Bobbie went to great lengths to take care of her family and was definitely the rock and glue that often held it all together. The patience she exhibited was a living testimony to her strong Christian faith, a model for her family and others to follow. Fond memories of biscuits and tomato gravy most every morning, and some of the best chicken and dumplings ever made, will be cherished and missed by all who enjoyed them over the years. A sweet, kind and giving woman with a beautiful heart, Bobbie will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her. She was preceded by her parents, Robert and Frances Fairley; her loving husband of more than 60 years, Leonard "Pete" Butler; her sister Margie Scarbrough and three grandhildren: Joshua Webb, Matthew Butler and Shaney Hickman. Left to cherish her memories are: her three children, daughters Deb (Preston) Webb and Elizabeth Sumrall, and son, Leonard "Gene" Butler, all of McHenry; her sister Myrtle Whorton, with a bonus sister, Glenda Cobb, both of Wiggins. Bobbie leaves a long legacy of six grandchildren: Patrick (Amber) Breland, Greg (Meg) Breland, Rebecca (Brandon) Tyree, Sara Moran, Preston M. Webb and Brandi Roper, twelve great-grandchildren: Hailey, Layla (Parker) and Taylor Breland, Addie and Sam Breland, Madi and Ariel Webb, Waylen Tyree, River Agustin and Ryleigh, Lakyn and Hunter Moran; and four great-great grandchildren, Eric and Hazel Herrington, Zayden Webb and Cotton Seymour, all of whom she loved dearly. Arrangements are set for Monday, December 13, 2021 at McHenry First Baptist Church. Visitation will begin at 10:30 AM, followed by the funeral service at 12:00 PM. Afterward, Bobbie will be laid to rest beside her husband in McHenry Oaklawn Cemetery. Trinity Funeral Services is honored to serve the Butler family in their time of need. Please keep them all in your thoughts and prayers through this difficult time.