Linda Faye Butler

We start this wonderful story of Linda’s life with her father, Walter Berry Walton. The Oil Boom in Southern Arkansas during the late 1930’s sounded like a lucrative job opportunity for him. While near El Dorado, he met and married Louise Atkins. After moving back to Mineral Wells, they were blessed with the birth of a son, Berry Lynn, who was born February 19, 1939 and a daughter, Linda Faye, May 3, 1945. Her father was the proprietor of Walton’s Bar across the street from the Baker Hotel. Her life was forever changed on May 17, 1955, when her brother Berry Lynn died at age 16 of Leukemia on May 17, 1955. Her parents divorced soon after. She and her mother relocated to Ft. Worth. Linda attended school in Ft. Worth but would head straight back to Mineral Wells every chance she had to be with her Daddy. They would spend much time together at PK Lodge on Possum Kingdom Lake. After graduation from Arlington Heights High School, she met Rodney Butler. They married July 10, 1964 and lived in an apartment above her Uncle Skeet Walton’s beer store. Moving to a country home whose address was simply “North of the Claret Club,” where they began their family. Rebecca Lynn was born April 5, 1965, and Rodney Brent made his appearance June 17, 1967. In the early 1970’s, she and Rodney purchased and ran the Pizza Shoppe for several years. It was the only pizza in town and a popular hangout for the locals. Life was good!   

A grand adventure began in 1973 when Rodney accepted a position with Bell Helicopter in Isfahan, Iran. This was a time of great family adventures and worldwide travels.

After returning to Mineral Wells, Rodney and Linda soon found themselves empty nesters. Linda was always a crafter and decided to start her own business.  She leased one room in a popular tea room and became an entrepreneur. Outgrowing this location, she and Rodney purchased a house and renovated it which became Linda’s Originals. Rodney became her business partner cutting her wooden designs which she painted. She taught painting classes weekly for many years. There was probably more gossip there than at any salon or coffee shop in town! Her creative talents were unending. She was well known for her most popular creation: the bluebonnet t-shirt. She could take any ordinary thing and transform it into a work of art. Her work was well known and respected from Canton to Dallas Market Hall.

Her sewing talent developed after the painting years. She created unique quilts for each of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

She always considered the birth of her grandchildren and becoming “Granny Faye” the highlight of her life.

Tears flowed on the day several years ago when she gave Becky a small quilt and said, “Go put this up. It’s for your first grandchild”.

She and Rodney enjoyed traveling, time with family and friends, and the love shared with fellow Christians at Eleventh Avenue Church and others elsewhere. As an only child who married an only child, any relative was important to Linda.  In 1985 she organized the Atkins Family Reunion which has created a loving bond between distant family members who otherwise would not have ever known each other.

 She is survived by children, Becky and (Trey) Evans and Brent and (Tracy) Butler.  Grandchildren Ryan and (Elizabeth) Butler, Rhett and (Allyson) Butler, Brady Barron, Brock Barron, and Reagan Butler. Great grandchildren Noel Butler, Shayla Butler, Kayla Butler, and Thompson Butler.

The family will receive visitors at Baum Carlock Bumgardner Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 from 5-7 pm. A celebration of her life will be Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at 10 am at Eleventh Avenue Church, 206 SW 11^th Avenue, Mineral Wells. Burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery next to Rodney.

Memorial donations may be made in her honor to the Alzheimer Association at ALZ.COM.