Kathleen Claire Butler

If you met Kathy, even once, you remembered her afterward. Perhaps because she was so easy to talk to. She had that unique and singular ability to carry a conversation with anyone. Or because she had such great and animated stories and that she would offer you her opinions in that confident and boisterous “Jersey” way of hers. If Kathy was there, you knew it. Either by the forceful tenor of her laugh, or that intangible illuminating quality that simply made her memorable. She worked as a materials processor for Boeing and Spirit Aircraft for over 40 years. Anyone who worked with her learned one thing very quickly: no one works like Kathy does. When Kathy is around things get done and they get done quickly and conscientiously. She was very proud to have served her country as an Army Veteran. Maybe in part due to her service - or because she felt strongly about everything - she was opinionated about politics and had high expectations for those in power. She was a history buff and an ardent NPR listener and kept herself educated on all major events globally. She was a great writer and had over 300 letters and opinion pieces published in the Wichita Eagle over the past 38 years. One of her proudest personal accomplishments was getting a Letter to the Editor into Time Magazine in 2004. She was of service to her community. You won’t have to look far to find anyone on the Northeast side of Wichita who hasn’t seen her planting flowers along intersections, cleaning up trash from curbsides, or mulching the landscape up at Buckner Elementary. No one asked. The things that needed to get done, Kathy simply did. She was outspoken, had a personal story for any topic, and loved when people came together. She was the family historian, remembered all of the birthdays and special occasions, and was the one who still sent cards for everything. She often joked that when she passed Hallmark would be in trouble because she kept them in business. She was a loving and selfless wife, mother, sister, and friend. She would cry during touching commercials and never stopped missing her mom. It is not cliche nor hyperbole to say this: she was simply the best grandmother there has ever been. She shared all of her greatest loves with her grandbabies: her love of nature, traveling, writing, history, and art. Her soul left her earthly body on March 9th at the age of 67. She was preceded in death by her father, Arthur and mother, Janice, and her older brother, Christopher. She is survived by her sister, Janice, and her brothers, Michael (Margarita), Eric (Debbie), Duncan (Gina), and Douglas (Bev). She will be deeply missed by her siblings and her husband, Henry, her daughter, Erica and her husband, Todd, her son, Troy and his wife Nicole, her grandchildren, Grant, Davis, Aalaysha, Mira, Abram, Brielle, and Amarra, and a myriad of beloved family members and friends who will miss her deeply until we see her again. Viewing, Visitation, and Service are at Downing & Lahey Mortuary 6555 East Central, Wichita, KS. Viewing Saturday, March 16, 204, from 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm; Sunday, March 17, 2024, at 8:00 am to 9:00 pm; Visitation on Sunday, March 17, 2024, 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm; Service Monday, March 18, 2024, at 11:00 am. with family available for Visitation beginning 10:30 am. The funeral service will be live streamed via webscast on Monday, March 18th, 2024, at 11:00 am. Webcast is accessible to the public through this obituary page. Please see link below. The following Memorial Donation options are suggested to support Kathy’s passions: KMUW 121 N. Mead Street, Suite 200, Wichita, KS 67202, Wichita Public Library Foundation 711 W. 2nd St. North, Wichita, KS 67203, and Wichita Art Museum 1400 West Museum Boulevard, Wichita, KS 67203-3200.

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