Obituary of Claudia M. Marshall Butler

Our beloved Claudia Butler passed away peacefully at Mother Joseph Care Center in Olympia, Washington, on January 10, 2015. Claudia was born to Mary Evelyn Bilbro and Horace H. Jones of Great Falls, Montana. Raised in Montana with her father, Horace, and sister, Elaine, she moved to Gig Harbor, Washington in 1962. Connecting again with her mother, Evelyn, she worked at her mother’s restaurant “Evie’s Highway Stop” in Olympia on Martin Way in the early 1960s, just prior to Old 99 turning into Interstate-5. There she found full time employment with the State of Washington, Employment Security Department, retiring after 30+ years of service. After 37 years together, Claudia married her life partner, John Butler, on December 12, 2008 in Brenda, Arizona, at the Little Church of Hope. She was a snowbird, sharing her time between Montana with her Bilbro family and Arizona with relatives and friends. She loved scrapbooking, stamping, gardening, piano, shopping, travel, baking, sewing, crafting, and painting. While in Arizona, she was a member of the Women’s Quilting Club, making quilts for the Salome Fire Department for burn victims, and Good Sam’s Travel Club. In Washington, she taught the art of paint to whoever welcomed her loving and greatest talent. She painted murals in Thurston and Pierce County, was a member of Olympia Artist’s Gallery, and entered her pieces into the Puyallup Fairground Art Exposition Center. Her murals included “Olympia Fire House” in Olympia, “Dry Camel” at the Alono Club in Olympia, “The Meadow” in Tacoma, and “The Stage Coach” in Rainier. She adored her family, the Bilbro Family Reunions, and her best friend Kay L. She loved walking her beloved Shitzu, Suzie Q. We will miss her giggle, her love of bling bling, numerous shrugs with arms wide open, not to mention the occasional furrowed brow, as well as her saying, “That’s nice.” Claudia leaves behind her husband, John T. Butler of Olympia; stepson, Dan T. Butler of Texas; son, Donald Mattern (Kris) of Port Angeles; daughters, Kathy Mattern and Brenda Ferguson (Jim) of Olympia; grandchildren, John T. Butler Jr. of Dupont, Mary Mattern, Travis Mattern, and Misty Florez of Tulalip, Bobbi Marshall and Tristen Clark of Olympia, and Devin Ferguson of Oregon; great grandchildren, Adrionna, CaiAnne, Skylar and Kayonie; and her beloved Shitzu, Suzie Q. She was predeceased by her parents; son, Roger Mattern; grandchild, Valerie Mattern, and sister, Elaine Caldwell. Please leave memories of Claudia or condolences for her family in the Guestbook below.