Patti Butler

Patti Jo Forlines Butler ("Pat") passed away Oct. 4, 2015, at the age of 86. Survivors include her beloved husband of 68 years, James E. Butler Sr.; children and their spouses Dee Ann and Howard Brandon, of Lawrenceville, James E. Butler Jr., of Columbus, Dennis W. and Judi C. Butler, of Columbus, and Laura Jo Butler, of Covington; grandchildren Jennis Brandon Watson and Howard Brandon III, James E. Butler III ("Jeb"), Emily Butler Patteson, Catherine Butler, Stewart Butler and Matt Butler; great-grandchildren Evie Brandon and Avi Watson; brothers Billy Patty, of Ringgold, Ga., Doug Forlines and Carl Forlines, both, of Jacksonville, Ga.; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Frances and Harold Butler, of Snellville, Ga. Mrs. Butler was preceded in death by her parents, John C. Forlines, of Virgilina, Va., and Virginia Jo Patty Kirkpatrick, of Ringgold, G.; and by her mother-in-law and father-in-law Laura Johnson Butler and Walter Herman Butler, of Starrsville, Newton County, Ga. Mrs. Butler was born in Nashville on June 10, 1929, and lived, over the course of her long life, in Ringgold, Atlanta, Dekalb County, Forsyth County, and finally Newton County, where her husbands family have lived for eight generations. She lived an active and joyous life. She was herself an only child, and her principal hope was to have a lot of children and a happy home. She accomplished both. She was active in churches wherever she lived, worked outside the home most of her life, and loved traveling, square dancing, playing bridge, and being with friends and family. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and of the Newton Hayriders, and was for years a volunteer at Newton General Hospital. Funeral Services for Mrs. Butler will be held Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2015, 2 p.m. at the Chapel of Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home, 1215 Access Road, in Covington, with Rev. Charles Reynolds and Steve Aldridge officiating and interment following in Lawnwood Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Wednesday, one hour prior to the service, from 12:45 1:45 p.m. The family wishes to express their deep appreciation to the staffs of Merryvale Assisted Living in Oxford Ga., and Abbey Hospice of Social Circle Ga., for their kindness and help. Those who wish to make a contribution in honor of Mrs. Butler may do so to the First Baptist Church of Covington Building Fund, 1139 Usher Street, Covington GA 30014. Service Announcement courtesy of the South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home and Crematory located at the end of Historic Missionary Ridge, Rossville.