Jean Eleanor & Robert Gordon Butler

BUTLER (Rinehart), Jean Eleanor, 81, passed away July 17, 2011 at her residence in Halifax. Born in Saint John, N.B., she was the daughter of the late William (“Harry”) and Ida (Cox) Rinehart. She is survived by her husband Robert (Bob) Butler; children Gordon (Joanne Gusella), Linda (Michael Bird), Beverly (Patrick Gleeson) and Lauren (Brian Cox); grandchildren Paul and Mitchell Butler, Letitia, Ellen and Malcolm Bird, Kathleen and Matthew Gleeson, Jenny Sears, great-grand children Brandon and MacKenzie; and her brothers Donald, Gordon and Robert (“Bobby”). She was predeceased by her sister Helen (Morrison) and a brother George (“Buddy”). She graduated from Saint John High School and attended business college. She enjoyed working as a secretary for the N.B. Department of Public Works and the Royal Trust before marrying Bob and starting a family, to which she was very devoted. She and her growing family lived in Sioux Lookout and Etobicoke, ON for a brief time before settling in Dartmouth where they stayed for 8 years. They then moved to Sackville, NB for 4 years before returning to Saint John, where they lived for most all of the past 40 years, only recently moving to Halifax to be nearer to their children. Jean made many life-long friends wherever she lived, often through her keen interest and skill in playing bridge. She was also the guardian of many prized family recipes and she enjoyed challenging herself with crossword puzzles. As was her wish, she will be cremated and will be interned at a later date in Fernhill Cemetery, Saint John. Donations in memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada or to a charity of your choice.

BUTLER , Robert Gordon, 83, passed away March 20 at his residence in Halifax, NS. Born in St. Thomas, ON, he was the son of the late Gordon and Dorothy (Fuller) Butler. He grew up in Saint John NB and attended Saint John High where he met his future wife, Jean. He received a BA from Sir George Williams University in Montreal in 1953, where he played and coached basketball. He then returned to Saint John to marry Jean and work for theYMCA. Bob continued his work with the Y for brief stints in Souix Lookout and Etobicoke ON before moving to Dartmouth, NS in 1959 to help start the Dartmouth YM-YWCA. He left the Y in 1968 to become the Executive Assistant to the President of Mount Allison University in Sackville, NB. In 1972 he and his family returned to Saint John where he was employed as a Training and Human Resource Officer with the Post Office until his retirement in 1984. Throughout his life, and especially after his retirement, he was involved with many volunteer agencies and service organizations including Kiwanas, Rotary Club, Lions Club, Legion Wheelchair Van Driver, Tonsillairs and Offtones singing groups, Read Saint John, and the Seniors Resource Centre. He produced and hosted “Seniors on the Go” a cable TV show in Saint John for 8 years. In his retirement he also took up folk painting, self published four books of humorous anecdotes, and had a talent for writing poems for special occasions. He was a NB Senior Ambassador for 8 years and edited another self published book with contributions from other ambassadors. During the last few years of their life, he and Jean moved to Halifax to be closer to their children. He was predeceased by his wife Jean (Rinehart) and sister Doreen (Plummer). He is survived by his children Gordon (Joanne Gusella), Linda (Michael Bird), Beverly (Patrick Gleeson) and Lauren (Brian Cox); grandchildren Paul and Mitchell Butler, Letitia, Ellen and Malcolm Bird, Kathleen and Matthew Gleeson, Jenny Sears, great-grand children Brandon and MacKenzie; and his sister Marilyn (Jack Logan). Bob was affectionately cared for by the staff at Drummond Hall/Parkland who provided compassion and comfort to both him and Jean over the last several years. There will be a private memorial service for family. He and his wife Jean will be interned at a later date in Fernhill Cemetery, Saint John, NB. Donations in memory may be made to a charity of your choice. Condolences may be sent c/o Linda Bird, 6149 Ingliss St., Halifax, NS B3H 1L6.