Carroll Butts

Carroll Gene Butts - age 94, of Linden, died on August 8, 2019. Funeral services will be held 11 AM Friday, August 23 at Sharp Funeral Homes, Fenton Chapel, 1000 silver Lake Rd., Fenton. Pastor Dawn Russell officiating. Interment in Oakwood Cemetery, Fenton. Visitation will be held 2-8 PM Thursday, August 22 and 10 AM until the time of service Friday August 23. Those desiring may make contributions to the Linden Presbyterian Church. He was born in Carterville, IL on Sept. 26, 1924, the oldest child of Carl and Mary Butts. The family moved to Fenton. Carroll enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp in 1942 and served as an instructor pilot for B17 (AKA Flying Fortress) bomber crews. At the end of the War, Carroll, like many other vets took advantage of the GI Bill and earned a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University. He was a salesman for Abbott Laboratories for 40 years until his retirement in 1984. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed his times on the course at Spring Meadows Golf Club and at other courses around the country. He also enjoyed photography and documenting his travels. He looked forward to annual trips to the deer cabin near Lake City MI, not so much for the sake of hunting but for the friendship and fun of sharing those times with friends and family. Carroll’s life was also marked by his love for two women. His first love was Jane Walcott, his high school sweetheart. They married in 1946, and had four children together, and remained a loving couple until her death in 1980. Carroll met Sylvia Dukes, his second love, on a blind date in 1982. They married in 1984. Sylvia and Carroll enjoyed travel, golf, and friends until her death in 2014. In addition to his two wives, Carroll was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Mary Butts, daughter Paula Sue, and his brothers Bobby and Carl. He is survived by his children and step children: Jeffrey Butts and wife Diane of Boone NC, Nancy Shaver and husband Bud of Cave Creek AZ, Jana Hoensheid and husband Gary of Suttons Bay MI, Cindy Norman and husband Don of Elkhart IN and Susan Rutan and husband Terry of Niota TN. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren and 3 step grandchildren: Jonathon Butts and wife Amy of Des Moines IA; Aaron Butts and wife Paige of Chicago IL; Adrienne Stumb and husband Adam of Boone NC; Kiel Shaver and wife Laura of Baily CO; Kara and husband Wes Bates of Chandler AZ; Ryan Hoensheid and wife Kate of DeWitt MI; Taylor Hoensheid and fiancé Maddy of St. Paul MN; Michelle Hillegass and husband John of Akron PA; Matt Norman and wife Sarah of Elkhart IN, and Andrea Kerr of Elkhart IN. Additional survivors are great grandchildren Charles and Madelyn Stumb, Hannah and Elias Butts, Harlow Bates, Landon and Tenley Hoensheid, Greta and Jeremiah Hillegass, Brennon and Taylor Norman; Jazmine, Zachary, and Bella Kerr. The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff of Tanglewood Home Care and Hospice for their care of Carroll. Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.