Frank Clifford Butler Jr.

Frank Clifford Butler, Jr., "Buddy" to all of his family, was born in Hastings, Florida on March 2, 1931 to Frank C. Butler, Sr. and Addie Lee Morrison Butler.

After the family moved to North Florida, Frank began as a teenager working in his father's several businesses. After attending The Bolles School - Jacksonville (which at the time was an "all boys" school) and later Landon High School he returned to work for his father.

In 1950, at the age of 19, he joined the Army and was stationed in Hawaii and then, Anawetok on the Marshall Islands, during the Korean War. In 1953, he sustained a foot injury from a Jeep accident and was honorably discharged.

Upon returning home, he resumed working for his father. A few years later, in 1959, he married Patricia Ann Barfield from Folkston, Georgia, daughter of the late "Chief" (Charlton County, Georgia Sheriff's office), Harold Barfield and his late wife, Bennie Altman Barfield, of Folkston.

Soon afterwards he managed his first full-service gas station in Hilliard, Florida. During this time "Buddy" and Ann welcomed their 2 daughters, Patricia LaDonna and then Susan Ann.

It was after that that he was offered another management position at a station on Emerson Street in Jacksonville so the family moved to Jacksonville around 1963. He quickly discovered that he had a real skill at running a business on his own. It was then he began pursuing his dream of ownership of his own station. His dream became reality when he became the owner of "Frank's Standard Oil" which later became "Frank's Chevron", on Lone Star Road, in Arlington.

During this time, Buddy and Ann had a son, Frank C. Butler III, fondly and forever referred to as "Bubba".

His business expanded through the years after his acquisition of a closed convenience store (next door to his station), that he turned into a new tire store and front end alignment shop, "Frank's Tire Shop". He also started his own wrecker service.

Frank, as his loyal customer's referred to him, was a "generous", "give the shirt off his back" quality of person and very often let customers pay "on credit" with no interest. There were also times he would write off a customer's debt if they were suffering a hardship. He towed many customer's vehicles at his own expense when they were stranded and couldn't afford it. Frank's kind and generous nature would also occasionally be taken for granted and prove to be a wrong investment in a person. But that never changed who he was and his generosity was never "scaled back" because of it.

"Buddy" was the go-to person for everyone in his extended family, which included many friends who had become family, whenever they needed help, whether is was financial or physical help. Many times, he would pick someone up from a "low place" and set them back up, more than once. He always believed you should give a "leg up" if you had the means to help. His work ethic was second to no one's. Up before dawn, open at dawn, close at dark, six days a week for over 30 years.

After retiring from the service station business, he couldn't sit still for long and began working for Mike Davidson Ford as a "parts runner" and then for Cogburn Bros Electric Company as the "warehouse manager" for a few years. It was during this time that his wife, Patricia Ann, passed away. He finally decided to slow down and smell the roses a year later when a chance meeting reunited him with a high school sweetheart, Betty Andrews, who had also recently lost her spouse and they enjoyed life together for 10 years.

"Buddy" Butler's family was the most important thing to him. As long as everyone in his family was healthy and happy, he was happy. He was a wonderful son, uncle, brother-in-law, grandfather, and great grandfather but his best ever job was being the most wonderful "Daddy" to Tricia, Susie and Bubba.

He was a "stand up" guy with a heart of Gold. We will sorely miss him but because he knew Jesus as his savior, we find great comfort in knowing he is in Heaven, and we are assured we will see him again one day.

Frank "Buddy" is predeceased by his wife, Patricia Ann Butler, his parents, his second set of parents (the in-laws he loved), "Chief" Harold Barfield and Bennie Barfield, and his two sisters, Doris and Joanne. He is survived by a brother, James Butler.

He is survived by his three children, Patricia "Tricia" Walls, Susan "Susie" Peeler (Tim) and Frank Butler, III, "Bubba". He is also survived by his 7 grandchildren, Stacy Sullivan, Bryan Sullivan (Katelyn), Danielle Butler, Trevor Marino, Bodhi Butler, Tyler Walls and Cody, along with 3 great-grandchildren (Kynlee, River and Camden), a beloved nephew, Rudolph "Val" Wiggins, and a much loved

brother-in-law and sister-in-law who were also precious friends to him, Harold "Eddie" Barfield and Brenda Barfield.

"A Celebration of Life service will be on Saturday, March 6, at 11am at Ft. Caroline Baptist Church. If you knew Frank, please feel welcome to attend. During the service, there will be an opportunity for anyone who has a story about him to share it. If you have one please do. It will be comforting to hear how he touched or impacted others' lives. Bring on the funny stories too. Daddy loved a good laugh!"

HARDAGE-GIDDENS FUNERAL HOME In Jacksonville Beach FL Is proud to serve the Butler Family