Patricia Ann Butler

Graveside services were conducted Thursday afternoon September 17th and burial followed in the Butler family lot in section two at the Ridgewood Cemetery in Carthage with Rev. Don Morris officiating.

Born Patricia Ann Williamson at the family home on April 16, 1932 in Celina in Clay County, TN, she was one of three children of Clay County native, the late William Herman (Will) Williamson who died at the age of 35 on March 26, 1935 and Cumberland County, Kentucky native, the late Mable Mackey Williamson who died at the age of 74 on January 29, 1985.

Mrs. Butler was preceded in death by a brother, Charles Herman Williamson who died July 12, 1976.

In the 1940’s her family moved to Carthage from the Granville Community in Jackson County and purchased the McClellan home on North Main Street in Carthage.

She was a 1950 graduate of Smith County High School where it was said of her in her annual; “I remain the Mistress of mine on self and mine on soul”.

Following graduation from High School she enrolled in the Mid-State Baptist Hospital School of Nursing program at Peabody College where she graduated in 1953.

On March 27, 1954 at the Carthage United Methodist Church, she was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart and the love of her live, H. E. “Buddy” Butler II who was the son of Carthage Barber and Main Street Barbershop owner Huber Butler and Anna Dalton Butler.

Buddy had graduate from Smith County High School in 1949 and from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute (now Tennessee Technological University) in Cookeville in 1953.

Following the wedding they immediately departed for his military duty assignment at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Mrs. Butler was a Registered Nurse and kept her license active until the age of 85, although as a Paternity Nurse in Knoxville she assisted adoption agencies with the placement of children.

Several years later and her last adoption placement was their son Bart, who was four months of age when Mr. and Mrs. Butler adopted him, and a few years later adopted Ed, who was five months old.

Patsy then unexpectedly gave birth to their son, Matthew Williamson Butler, who was a special needs son on May 3, 1967 and who with broken hearts, they returned to his heavenly father on October 13, 1994.

Through Matthew’s life and following his death, she served as an officer in local, state and national organizations helping those with disabilities.

Matthew had graduated from high school and had moved into his own apartment with support from his loving and caring family.

Mrs. Butler was instrumental in forming the Middle Tennessee Supported Living program, an organization that supported persons with disabilities to live on their own terms.

Being fondly remembered as an active and engaging lady, she was an outgoing participant in any organization she was involved with.

Mrs. Butler also enjoyed her bridge group, watching the Tennessee Vols play football, and entertaining her friends and family.

The Butler’s were member of the Brentwood United Methodist Church.

Surviving in addition to her husband, Buddy, of over sixty six years are their two sons, W. B. “Bart” Butler of Murfreesboro, H. E. “Ed” Butler III of Nashville; brother, Bill Williamson of Murfreesboro; daughters- in- love, Lidia, Melissa, Debbie, and Kim; four grandsons, Drew, Spencer, Jozef, and Maxwell.