Jimmy Richard Butler

After nearly 14 years of a progressive series of health related challenges, Jim peacefully entered his eternal rest, with his family by his side, on July 8, 2024.  Jim’s health challenges began in 2010, when he had emergency triple by-pass surgery during a cross-country driving vacation.  His recovery from this medical emergency was the first of many over the years that surprised and amazed us all.  Even amidst his complicated health issues and limited mobility he was like the Energizer Bunny.

“Richard” was born on October 19, 1946, in Dothan, AL. He was raised in the Florida panhandle, by his parents Roy and Ruby. He attended Graceville High School, where he played trumpet in the high school band and participated in swimming and diving competitions.  After graduation he enlisted in the Air Force (where they called him “Jim” or “Jimmy”) and served at Mather AFB in Sacramento (where he met his wife Cheryl of 56 years) and Udorn AFB in Thailand (1967-68). Jim and Cheryl moved to Oregon when their children were young and returned to the Sacramento area in 1983.

Jim spent more than 40 years working at various office positions in the trucking industry (data entry of truck loads and driver mileage logs, payroll, rating and billing clerk, dispatcher, etc.) for PMT, PIE, Consolidated Freightways and Roadway Express usually working the graveyard shift.  His true passion was his bi-vocational career in the church, where he served as Music Director and Minister of Music at Baptist churches in Oregon and the Sacramento areas. He was also called as Associate Pastor of Southside Community Church and First Baptist Church of Orangevale (FBOV), where he was an active member, deacon, and adult Bible study teacher. 

He was a lifelong learner and avid reader.  He had over 1100 books in his personal library and yes he had read (95%) almost all of them; he just ran out of time. He started college in 1990 and graduated Summa Cum Laude from William Jessup University with a BS in Bible and Theology and Christian Leadership in 2008.  He retired from the trucking industry and graduated college in the same year.

His retirement years included traveling to visit family and friends across the US from Oregon to Connecticut, Alabama, Texas and everything in between.  He appreciated history and visited 9 of the 13 presidential libraries. He loved the water and summers were spent around the backyard pool where he taught the grandchildren to swim and dive. He enjoyed playing softball, watching the SF Giants and Alabama football (Roll Tide).

Jim was predeceased by his parents, Roy & Ruby (Skinner) Butler and brother Raymond Butler. He is survived by his wife, Cheryl (Spradley), their children and spouses: Robin (Butler) and Scott Jones, and David and Amanda (Rosensteel) Butler; and his grandchildren: Ryan Jones and Kathryn Espinoza, Alyssa (Jones) and Dashiell Wulterin, Madelyn Butler and Abigail Butler; and great-grandchild Phoenix Bagunas; and his sister Rebecca (Butler) and Nolan Gilbert, sister-in-law Patsy (Legg) Butler, and brother-in-law Vic and Donna (Harris) Spradley. Also survived by an aunt and uncle, 2 nieces, 3 nephews, and numerous cousins.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, July 20, at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church of Orangevale, 8998 Central Avenue, Orangevale, CA 95662.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorial contributions be made to First Baptist Church of Orangevale.  Price Funeral Chapel (916-725-2109), directors.

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