John William Butts, son of Henry Alford Butts and Helen Marie Redfearn Butts, was born Oct. 29, 1940, in Springfield. He lived in Springfield for the past 30 years. John was united in marriage Joyce Ferriel Fisher on Oct. 27, 1989. He is survived by four children, Ronald Butts and his wife, Lisa, of Pittsburg, Kan.; Donald Butts and his wife, Suzette, of Liberal; Linda Butts; and Deborah Eubanks and her husband; niece, Jennifer Upshaw and her husband Andrew; nephew, Bradley Butts and his wife, Corina, of Springfield; and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. John attended Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, and he attended junior college at Fort Scott Community College in Fort Scott, Kan. He grew up in Centerville, Reynold County. John professed his faith in Christ at the age of 9 years. He felt the call to preach at the age of 14 years. John has been a minister for more than 60 years; he was ordained in 1959. He was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge. John pastored a number of churches in Missouri including churches in Stoutland, Olean, Liberal and North Star in Strafford. He was a member of Crossway Baptist Church since 2009. During that time, he had a nursing home ministry in Springfield. John’s desire was for people to be saved. His favorite scripture was John 3:16. John was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his long life and ministry. John will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Visitation will be held on Monday, Nov. 23, 2020, 10-11 a.m. at Crossway Baptist Church, Springfield. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. John will be laid to rest at Steele Memorial Cemetery in Hartville, at 2 p.m. Care and arrangements have been entrusted to Walnut Lawn Funeral Home, Ltd. – DeGraffenreid-Wood-Crematory, Springfield.
