Peggy Lou Shelton Butler

Peg was born on May 3, 1949 in Dumas, Texas to the late Robert Cody Shelton and Alice Rebecca (Harper) Shelton. On August 3, 1974, she succumbed to the wooing of a young Staff Sergeant of Marines, James A. Butler on Recruiting Duty in Oklahoma who convinced her that the life of a Marine was somewhat similar to a civilian career, 8am to 5pm, except that you got to see a lot of the world. She later learned that as a Recruiter, “if your lips were moving-you were lying.” She lived an adventurous life traveling the globe while they (Jim usually wasn’t around) were in the service and raising their children. Family was the most important thing in the world to Peg and she was happiest when she was with them. Her grandchildren were the apple of her eye and helped to keep her young at heart!

Peg grew up in Ponca City, Oklahoma, but would always be quick to let you know she was a Texan at heart-just like her dad. She graduated from Ponca City High School, went to Northern Oklahoma Community College in Tonkawa and graduated from Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. She worked at various companies throughout the world while living the nomadic like life of a Marine wife. Moving back to Jacksonville, North Carolina in early 1991, she joined MCCS aboard Camp Lejeune in the Review & Analysis Department and retired after 20 years as the Deputy Director. In retirement, she took no little satisfaction in letting Jim know who the real “Sergeant Major” of the home was and all the “honey do’s” of the past 30 years were now due! She was an active supporter of the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society aboard Camp Lejeune and the Onslow Memorial Hospital Foundation where she served as a volunteer after retirement.

Predeceased by her parents and younger brother Calvin “Bo” Shelton of Garden Grove, Ca; Peggy is survived by her loving husband, friend and companion of 40 years-Jim, sons George Edward Butler and family of Saint Augustine, Florida, James Robert Butler and family of Leland, North Carolina and step daughter Brandy Ann Nichols of Va. Beach, Virginia. She is also survived by her brother Robert “Bob” Shelton and wife Anita, sister Betty LaRue and husband Brad from Ponca City, OK; Mother-in-law Mary Ann Butler, brothers-in-law Wayne, Richard, Merril and Charles of Va. Beach, Virginia; sisters-in-law Carol Dawn Butler Delsing of Providence Forge, Virginia; Geraldine “Jeri” Butler Tuttle, Hope Darlene “Cricket” Butler Pulju, and Barbara Butler of Va. Beach, Va.; Evelyn “Encia” Lumbre Shelton of Garden Grove, Ca., and a host of family members too many to mention who all loved her dearly and will miss her and her keen sense of wit.

Her true love were her special grandchildren, Katie Lynn, Alice Victoria, Kendra Cherice and Jared Nikao who provided her so much happiness over the last several years…!

A visitation will be held at Johnson Funeral Home, 2685 Henderson Drive Extension in Jacksonville, NC on Friday, July 11th at 6pm until 8pm with the Memorial service on Saturday July 12th at 11am at the same location. Interment will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Onslow Memorial Hospital Foundation or the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society at Camp Lejeune in her name.

Arrangements by Johnson Funeral Home of Jacksonville