Donald Eugene Butler

Bennettsville

   Mr. Donald Eugene Butler, age 56, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 4, 2015, surrounded by his loving family, at Scotland Memorial Hospital in Laurinburg, NC.

  Born in Scotland County, NC, on January 16, 1959, he was the son of the late James Marvin Butler, Jr. and Margaret Louise Brand Butler.  He was of the Baptist faith.

  Donald graduated from McColl Fletcher High School in 1977 and was inducted into the National Honor Society, whose membership “is based on scholarship, leadership, service and character”. He was employed with Eaton, formerly known as Golf Pride, in Aberdeen, North Carolina for 25 years. In recognition of his dedication and hard work, he was awarded the Outstanding Employee Award—2005, Legacy of Excellence Award—2008, Outstanding Performance Award—2009, and the Global Team Vision for Innovation Award –2011. His expertise was utilized by the Eaton Corporation during the decommissioning of the Golf Pride facility when he was sent to Bangkok, Thailand to oversee the rebuild of the Golf Pride machinery transported there, and to train operators in maintenance and use of the machinery. In addition to being a certified Master Mechanic, he was also recognized by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence for his skill in automotive diagnostics and engine repair. Those skills were put to good use during the time he worked for his mentor and friend, Wesley Leviner, as well as during his drag racing years. Donald’s rowdy pit crew was made up of his good friends Ed Coddington, Mitchell Chavis, Greg Freeman and David Knight, affectionately known as The Last Chance Garage. The name came from the crew’s penchant for picking up others old, discarded parts and repurposing them into racing dynamite! Donald, himself, was content to let others do the racing—he just wanted his hands on mechanical parts of the car! All these many and varied talents, however, paled in comparison to Donald’s expertise with a grill, where he reigned supreme! At any event that involved a cookout, he could invariably be found overseeing the creation of the perfectly grilled chicken or steak!  Donald was an avid outdoorsman who loved fishing and hunting with his life-long friends Donald “Sonny” Nelson, Ed Coddington, and Mitchell Chavis, and was always on the lookout for that elusive twelve point buck. His love of dogs was boundless and was lavished not only on his own four-footed family members Bandit, Mutley, Bubba and both Sugars and Little Girl, but was freely given to all who wandered up and needed a home. Donald was a wonderful father, son, brother, uncle, grandfather and friend who enriched the lives of all who knew him, and he will be forever missed by those who were fortunate enough to share his life.

  Donald is survived by his daughter, Eva Montoya (Keith Todd) of Myrtle Beach, SC; a son, Randy Garner (Emily Suther) of Evanston, WY; by grandchildren, Aiden Simmons and Alayna Todd of Myrtle Beach, SC; by siblings, Dianne West (Nelson Norman West), Patricia Brigman, Linda Chavis and Joyce Marie Oxendine all of Bennettsville and Billy Butler (Susan Butler) of McColl; by nieces & nephews, Michelle Wise (Guerry Wise) of Rocky Mount, NC, Christina Chavis (Tiffany Chavis) of Bennettsville, Jeremy Torres of London, KY, April Oxendine of Bennettsville, Jessica Smith (Jay Smith) of McColl, Joshua Butler (Samantha) of Augusta, GA and Brandy Grooms (Patrick) of McColl; great nieces & nephews, Dylan Wise of Rocky Mount, NC, Eric Clyburn, Kaden Clyburn, Selena Oxendine and Jaden Morton all of Bennettsville, Shawn Nelson, Brendon Nelson, Donald Torres, Elijah Torres, Casey Torres and Tobjiah Torres all of London, KY, Damianna Heffner of McColl, Christian Butler and Gabriel Butler both of Augusta, GA, Audrey Grooms, Hannah Grace Grooms and Ruthie Lynn Grooms all of McColl; two very special “Second Mothers”, Virgie Montoya and Gwen Heffner both of McColl; Brothers in spirit, Ed Coddington of Bennettsville, Mitchell Chavis of Gibson, NC and Donald “Sonny” Nelson of McColl.

 Funeral services will be held 4:00 P.M. on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at Rogers Funeral Home with burial following in Beaverdam Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8P.M. on Monday, December 7, 2015 at Rogers Funeral Home.

  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Embrace Hospice, 116 N. Liberty Street, Bennettsville, South Carolina 29512.

Please sign the online guestbook@www.rogersofmccoll.com.

 Service Information