Marguerite Helen Butler

Marguerite Helen (Ellis) Butler, of Saint Johns, Florida died peacefully Friday, September 23, 2022 at the age of 95 years.

Marguerite embraced life enthusiastically, accepted challenges graciously, and worked tirelessly to ease the burdens of others. Born January 29, 1927 in Fort Edward, New York, she was the daughter of Leslie M. and Elsa M. (Williams) Ellis. She graduated from Argyle Central School in New York and ranked second academically in her class. She entered nursing school at the Samaritan Hospital School of Nursing in Troy, New York and participated in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps while a student. Following graduation from nursing school she quickly began working as a Registered Nurse but was not required to serve active duty because the war was over. Later in her career she graduated from Western Illinois University and in 1984 received her Masters Degree at SUNY Buffalo, New York in Rehabilitation Nursing. She then worked as a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner in the Veterans Administration, working first in Buffalo and later at the Hines Veteran Administration Hospital in Chicago.

Marguerite was married in 1947 to Vern Weldon “Pat” Butler who became a Presbyterian minister. She served in several pastorates with him and together they enjoyed many lasting friendships with church members. After retirement in 1991 she spent several months of the next two years as a volunteer missionary Nurse Practitioner at the Geriatric Centre in Nasr City, Egypt – located on the eastern side of Cairo.  She enjoyed retirement at her home on Shavehead Lake in Cassopolis, Michigan that they purchased in late 1965.  She spent her time gardening, and both boating on and swimming in the lake. She worked with the YMCA Senior Center in Elkhart, Indiana for many years and became a dedicated artist using watercolors and later, acrylic paints.

She moved to Orange Park, Florida in 2013 to live near her daughter and then moved to the Westminster Woods Retirement Community in 2015. She was predeceased by both parents in 1972-1973, her grandson Benjamin in 2007, and her husband in 2008.

She is survived by her daughter, Dr. Mary Kathleen Ebener with close friend Laura MacDowell, and her son, Ellis Butler with wife Sheryl. Grandchildren include Dr. Robert Vern Ebener with wife Laura, Emily Pryor with husband Will, and Steven Butler with wife Sarah. Great-grandchildren include Austin Ebener, Addison Ebener, Vaden Pryor, Warren Pryor, Elizabeth Pryor, and Raiden Butler.

The family prefers contributions in memory of Marguerite be made to the United Presbyterian Church, 209 State Street, Cassopolis, Michigan 49031.

Mrs. Butler was buried beside her late husband, Dr. V. Pat Butler in a private family ceremony in Plum Grove Cemetery in Union, Michigan.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Wagner Family Funerals Connelly Chapel, Cassopolis. Please share a memory or a message online: wagnercares.com.

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