Betty Joyce Butler

Betty Joyce (Wilburn) Butler passed away, Sunday February 23, 2020. That horrible disease known as dementia had been taking her away from us slowly for several years. But on this Sunday afternoon, while surrounded by her family at home, she took a deep breath and let go. Betty was 80 years old, born December 3, 1939 to the late James Wilburn and Lauda Honeycutt Wilburn.

Betty’s smile, her love of people and life made her dearly loved by everyone who was blessed to know her. Her outgoing, radiant energy caused her to excel when it came to working with the public- something she did during the biggest part of her working career, a career which mostly involved working in the banking industry. Her position that she was most proud of was working for The State Treasurer’s Office for The State of Alabama. She had previously been working at a bank right across the street from the state capitol building, in Montgomery, AL. One of her customers was George Wallace Jr, (son of the late governor George Wallace) who was then State Treasurer for the State of Alabama. He was so impressed by her attention to detail and the kindness and efficiency she used when working with customers, that he asked her to come work in his office. She accepted, and became one of the most trusted and loved employees in the State House. She loved to reminisce about her work there and all the interesting people she met there. While living in Tennessee, Betty worked at Hamilton Bank, Suntrust Bank, and Elizabethton Federal, where she won numerous customer service awards.

What Betty will be most remembered for, however, was her tremendous love for life and people. She loved to sing, dance, ride roller coasters and swim in the ocean. She loved road trips with her family, working in the yard, and keeping a home full of love, laugher, and home cooked food. And she loved parades, always reminiscing about the days she led the Science Hill High School band down the streets of downtown Johnson City, as the lead majorette. She had a way of adding light to every room she entered and making strangers feel like family. She was so kind and generous that she would give away anything she thought someone else might need or want and would always go out of her way to be there to help others.

And she was absolutely adored by her family……her husband Gene Butler, who she met when she was just 15 years old. Married when she was 16, they shared an amazing love that kept them together for 64 years, and he took care of her at home until the very end of her life. Her daughter Teri Butler Dosher, son Robbie Butler, and granddaughter Zoё Dosher, all of who are so blessed to be raised by someone who loved so passionately and unconditionally in a home full of love and laughter. Her sister, Janice Wilburn Brackins (husband Dana), and brothers Jimmy Wilburn (wife Sandy) and Larry Wilburn, and sister-in-law Suzie Butler. Lots of nieces and nephews, and a very special niece who was also like a daughter, Kim Smith Timbs. While her body may be gone, she is forever a part of all who knew her.

Family and friends are asked to join a celebration of life, held Tuesday, March 3 at 6pm at The Willow Tree Coffeehouse, 216 East Main Street, JC TN.