Marguerite Butler

Marguerite “Rita” Butler, age 85, Crystal River passed away December 15, 2020 at The Grove Health & Rehab Center in Hernando following a long battle with Cancer and Alzheimers’ Disease

Rita was born in Thomasville, GA on February 5, 1935 to the late Robert and Mattibel (Blanton) Dollar and came to this area from Bartow, FL. She graduated Leon High School in 1953. She attended Florida State College for almost two years, then became an Eastern Airlines Stewardess in 1956. Rita married Herman (Hank) Butler, Jr. in 1966, that became a great marriage for 54 years. In 1967 she decided to become a teacher, receiving an associate degree at Polk Community College in early 1968. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at the University of South Florida in 1970, and a Masters degree at Valdosta State College in 1976. Rita taught elementary school (K-6) beginning in 1971 and retired in 1994. She taught in Bartow, FL, Ft. Meade, FL and Cairo, GA.

When Rita and Hank married, she didn’t know what was required of Hank and the Florida National Guard. As commander of a unit, his requirements to respond quickly, were hard to understand, but soon she accepted and really enjoyed being part of some of his activities, especially the military balls and the retiree conferences at Camp Blanding. Hank said “she became a great trooper”. After Hank’s military retirement in 1985, Rita and Hank and high school friends in Tallahassee, Chuck and Maryann Mohr, traveled Space A on military aircraft to many places, including Great Britain, Spain, Puerto Rico, Panama, Alaska and Hawaii.

Rita enjoyed her Blanton family reunions that started in 1958 in Cairo, GA and has continued every year since, with this year’s reunion in July on Zoom. She loved fishing and after moving to Crystal River in 1994, caught “tons” of grouper while trolling in the Gulf. Rita began her residence in memory care facilities in 2016 and on December 2020 lost her battle with Alzheimer’s and cancer, and is now living with Jesus and family already there.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Herman Butler, Jr.,( their 54th anniversary would have been on December 30, 2020); her son: Michael D. Butler and wife Jan of Lakeland, FL; her daughters: Nan Burton and husband Leland of Crawfordville, FL and Michelle Diehl of Apollo Beach, FL; her grandchild, Kristen Langston and great grandchildren: Jackson Langston, Amelia Langston, Gaven Langston and Bohdi Ketzel.
She was predeceased by her son Kelly L. Butler in November, 2020 and her sister, Joanne Myers Everett in 2019..

Private graveside services will be conducted from Florida National Cemetery on Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at 2:30 PM. Interment will follow. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated to the Alzheimer’s/ Cancer Research or your favorite charity.