Karen Butler Saito

Karen Ann Butler Saito was born on November 26,1941 to the late Samuel Eugene Butler, Sr and the late Kathleen Beeton in Alexandria, VA. She had two older brothers, Sammy and Douglas. Her father was a general foreman for Southern Railway. Her mother kept a busy household and was an excellent Southern cook, baker and hospital volunteer.

She grew up in Alexandria, VA near her grandparents, aunts & uncles and lots of cousins and they visited often. Her mother took care of her aging in-laws and often took people in who needed a place to stay. After graduating from Boyden High School in Salisbury, NC, Karen attended the University of GA. While she was a freshman, she met a dashing Japanese graduate student in 1960. Their first date was the movie, "Breakfast at Tiffany’s". Months later, Saito would profess his love and devotion by giving Karen a pendant necklace with 2 small diamonds in it. He told her he was the “Prince of the Orient” and she believed him. Kazuro Raymond Saito and Karen were married on September 2,1962 at First United Methodist Church in Salisbury. They raised their three daughters in the Darby Acres area of Charlotte and then a fourth daughter after moving to Mint Hill.

Karen was an animal lover and wanted to be a Veterinarian when she was growing up. She loved horses most of all. When her parents bought her her first horse, Baby Joe, they didn’t know she was pregnant and they named the foal, April Surprise. Her love for horses never dwindled and in 1974, Karen made sure Santa brought daughters, Angela, Michelle and Aimee a pinto pony, named Dandy. She walked the pony to the house in the middle of the night for several miles for Christmas morning because she did not yet own a horse trailer. One pony quickly became four. She affectionately called the home and acreage, “The One Trick Pony Farm.” She volunteered as a 4-H county leader, becoming known as “Coach Saito,” she went on to coach many 4-H horse judging, horse bowl, and hippology teams that won State and National awards. In 2000, Karen was honored at the State 4-H Horse Show in Raleigh, NC as the North Carolina State 4-H Volunteer Leader of the Year.

Karen returned to college as an an adult student and busy mama, successfully juggling class and assignments along with girls aged 2 ,4, and 6. She earned her BA and graduated with her MA in Early Childhood Education from UNCC in 1973. Her work ethic, enthusiasm and endless energy was an inspiration and trait that she passed on to her girls. She was a popular kindergarten teacher, serving 26 years at Lakeview and Rama Rd Elementary Schools. Her classroom was filled with hands-on learning games, a class pet hamster and in the spring, chick hatchlings. Her daughters brought 4-H ponies and sheep to school to creatively enrich many children's lives. Both daughters and students alike loved with her energetic, loving but firm teaching style. After retirement, she was able to care for grandchildren and attend their activities, travel to Japan, visit family across the United States, participate in sports at the Senior Center and join many family reunions in Virginia.

In the last two decades, Karen drove a horse carriage for pleasure and even competed in several shows. She and Dad worked as a team in driving events; she drove and he was the navigator. She loved leading her grandchildren around the pasture on the back of a horse and more recently, she would take them around in the pony cart. Karen served as Secretary for the Carolina Carriage Club and helped organize many drives and shows. She recently reflected that she wanted to be remembered as “the girl who loved horses”.

Karen was joyful and had a song for everything, which she happily, freely and unabashedly belted out anywhere. She sang so much that a grandchild had mistakenly concluded she had been a music teacher instead of a kindergarten teacher. Mom’s love of learning, love of teaching and her commitment to service lives on in her girls. She tirelessly and unselfishly poured her heart and soul into motherhood and for that we are so grateful. She taught us to always do our best, to treat others the way you want to be treated, and if you can’t say anything nice, don't say anything at all!!!

Spiritually, Karen was more of a quiet Christian, unless singing a hymn. She was a long time, second generation member of Cokesbury United Methodist Church. Our parents were blessed to attend Prime Timers with our grandmother, Kathleen. They seemed to form a strong bond with all of Cokesbury’s diverse pastors. Karen had an incredible gift for recall and she could name the Pastors in order dating back to Rev Jack Kayler. Mom and Dad had wonderful supportive friends at Cokesbury. The Cokesbury family called our mother often and provided a delicious bereavement meal when our father passed.

Karen depended on Ray for many caregiving duties during her nearly five years of dialysis; she was by his side and assisted their daughters during his short battle with pancreatic cancer. After our father's passing, Karen and her dog, Dottie, moved to the Willow Grove Retirement Community where despite losing her soulmate, she found purpose and joy by making new friends there, residents and caregivers alike. She enjoyed the hummingbird feeder and patio garden that her daughter, Aimee created and maintained for her. Karen faithfully attended the featured musical entertainment, book clubs, craft activities and many contests offered by the senior living center. She chuckled in perplexion when a favorite holiday sweater from the 80's, won her a 1st place medal in the Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest.

We would like to thank Mom’s medical care team for their excellence and compassion: Dr. Alicia Cole, Tryon Medical Partners; Dr William O. Ntim. Novant Health Heart and Vascular Institute; Drs. Matthew Elliott, Daniel Tierney and Paul Blake, Metrolina Nephrology Associates; Dr. Steven J. Ryder Horizon Eye Care; Dr. Scott L. Philippe, Piedmont Eye Associates; Drs. J.O. Clark and Jennifer Slaughter, Landmark Dentistry; Dianne Nguyen, RN Theratouch Foot Care and April, DPT with Bayada.

We especially would like to express our gratitude to DaVita Mint Hill–DaWanna, Anne, Trenia, Amber, Talana, Alicia, Amanda and Brenda and the others on the M-W-F team. At Willow Grove, we would like to thank Monique, Nikki, Andrea and the entire staff at the Willow Grove Retirement Community. We are deeply indebted to Tona, Cindy, Barbara T and Barbara J who always delivered their special brand of love and care to our mother and treated her like family.

Karen was preceded in death by the love of her life, Kazuro Ray Saito, her parents, her brother, Rev. Douglas Butler and her sister-in-law, Glenda Butler. She is survived by brother, Samuel Butler, Jr. of Lilburn, GA, sisters-in-law; Sarah Butler of Winston-Salem, NC, Fukuko Hamada of Oiso, Japan and Kumiko Saito of Chigasaki, Japan. Daughters: Dr. Angela Saito (Jeff Donaldson) of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Michelle Brewer (Buddy Brewer) of Harrisburg NC, Aimee Saito (Jimmy Wright) of Charlotte and Joanna Saito (Scott Betz) of Bolivia, NC. 11 grandchildren: Zach Donaldson (Meghan), Devin Donaldson, Adam Brewer, Madison Brewer Steigerwalt (Luke), Abby Brewer, Branson Brewer, Lawson Brewer, Cameron Wright, Alex Wright, Jack Betz and Graham Betz. 1 great-grandchild: Murphy Saito Donaldson.

Memorials may be made to Cokesbury UMC, 6701 Idlewild Rd.Charlotte, NC 28212. A Celebration of Life is planned for July 30, 2022, with visitation at noon, followed by a service at 1:00 at Cokesbury UMC. 6701 Idlewild Rd. Matthews, NC 28105. A reception will follow. Interment of Ray and Karen’s ashes will be private.

Online condolences may be offered at www.mcewenminthillchapel.com