John Jenkins Butler
Marriages
Doris Forest - August 1951
Obituaries
The Daily Sentinel page 11B - March 5, 2023
John J. Butler was called
home on February 3, 2023
at the age of 93. He was born
at home on Granath Mesa
near Dolores, Colorado to
William Lester Butler and
Mary Jenkins Butler and
was the 10th of their 12 children and the youngest boy.
John grew up helping on the family’s 180-acre farm.
During WWII with 5 of his older brothers serving in
the military, he and his younger sister planted the fields.
John attended a one room schoolhouse and his oldest
sister was his teacher for one year. The older students
helped the younger students with their lessons and all
the students would play baseball at recess. He graduated
from Dolores High School and then joined the Army.
He was stationed in occupied Japan. When he returned
home from military duty to Dolores, Colorado, he met
Doris Forest. They were married a few months later in
August of 1951. They truly loved each other and were
happily married for 70 years. After Doris’ death in 2021,
he missed her terribly. In 1956, Mountain Bell (Lumen)
offered him a transfer to Grand Junction, Colorado
from Denver, Colorado where he had been working for
Western Electric. John retired after 35 years of service.
In 1957, John and Doris purchased a 10-acre farm on
East Orchard Mesa and lived in their home for 62 years.
They raised peaches, cherries, alfalfa, corn, and cattle.
At one time, he farmed over 100 acres of land. John
enjoyed problem solving, farming, family, friends, and
community involvement throughout his life and lived
his values. He served the church as a Deacon, Trustee,
Sunday School Teacher, and served on the Church
Camp Board as well as remodeled the parsonage and
sanctuary. John always said that they don’t make good
farmland anymore. He was concerned for the food
security of future generations and so got together with a
few neighbors to found the Mesa Land Trust to protect
and perpetuate the agricultural component of Mesa
County. That organization, now Colorado West Land
Trust, protects over 127,000 acres of farm, wildlife, and
ranch land. He was very proud of and amazed by what
the land trust had accomplished. John is survived by
his four children: Geri Anderson of Everton, Arkansas,
Cindy Richardson (Steve) of Whitewater, Randy
Butler (Gail) of Caldwell, Texas and Kevin Butler
(Mary) of Clifton. He is survived by his grandchildren:
Christopher Richardson, Gwyn Hittle, Wendy Williams,
Jacob Richardson, Tammy Bendetti, Joseph Eastman,
Isaac Eastman, Eric Gregory, Trae Williams, Taylor
Williams, Tory Williams, Brandy Butler, and 18 great-
grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife
Doris, children who died in infancy, Donald, John Jr,
Brenda, and Linda, parents, and his eleven siblings. The
memorial service will be held on Friday, March 10, 2023
at 12:00 p.m. at the Palisade United Methodist Church,
365 Main Street and a graveside service at the Veterans
Memorial Cemetery, 2839 Riverside Parkway, at 3:00
p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations
be made to the Palisade United Methodist Church, the
Colorado West Land Trust, Hope West Hospice, or the
Palisade Historical Society.
