Gary was born July 27, 1942 in Birmingham, Alabama to Virginia (Saunders) Butner and James B. Butner.
Gary moved to Overland Park, Kansas in 1955 where he later graduated from Shawnee Mission North. He attended the University of Kansas and later went on to obtain his Doctorate (PhD.) in Theology from Evangelical Bible Seminary in Kansas City, Kansas after 9 years of study. After a few years at the University of Kansas, he went on to become a demolition expert as a Green Beret with the United States Army. Gary had a successful 41 year career as an insurance agent for American Family Insurance, with agencies in Shawnee, KS. He was also very involved in both religious and political communities even spending many years working on translations for the New American Standard Bible. Gary also worked as a minister for the First Step Program at Lansing Correctional Facility mentoring and guiding prisoners toward re-entry into society. Politically, Gary served as a Republican committee member for 10 years and also served as the Vice President of Johnson County Chapter of Kansans for Life.
Everyone who knew him, recognized Gary as a Christian man of devout faith. Over the years, he attended several area churches including Overland Park Church of Christ, Johnson County Christian Church, and Johnson County Church of Christ. He was actively involved in each and often shared his religious knowledge as a Sunday School teacher or outside of class as a mentor to many others.
Gary was preceded in death by his father, James B. Butner and mother Virginia (Saunders) Butner.
Gary is survived by; daughter Jennifer Beuscher; grandson Devon Beuscher, and granddaughter London Riley Beuscher; sister Sharron (Trent) Greene; sister Melinda (Scotty) Smith, niece Michelle (Paul) Kester, nephew Brian (Amanda) Greene; niece Kelli Smith; great nephew and niece Emmett and Virginia (Jinx), he was married to Nadezhda Feodorovha; step-daughter Maria (Alex), and step-grandchildren Misha and Evah.
A Visitation will occur from 12:00pm to 1:00pm on Saturday, August 10, 2019 followed by a Funeral Service at 1:00pm at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home. Military Honors will occur at the conclusion of the Funeral Service. A Committal Service will occur immediately after the funeral at Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens, 23215 West 75th Street, Shawnee, Kansas 66227.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mtmoriah.net for the Butner family. Should friends desire, contributions may be sent to Overland Park Church of Christ or the American Lung Association.
