Bruce Marden Butler

April 14, 1928 - December 3, 2017

Bruce Marden Butler (89), was born in Harmony, MD on April 14, 1928. He departed this life on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017 at Bentonview Park Assisted Living in Monett, MO. The son of the late Bruce E. Butler and the late Hattie E. (Carroll) Butler, he graduated from Federalsburg High School with the class of 1945. Following graduation, he enlisted in the Merchant Marines and traveled to more than 21 countries. Prior to the outbreak of the Korean War, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. After leaving the service, Mr. Butler worked as a long-haul trucker and as a carpenter in the shipyards around Baltimore and Washington. With the skills learned in the shipyards, he built his fishing boat, the Bay Talk, and lived on the western shore of Maryland with his wife, Edith, working as a waterman on the Chesapeake Bay for more than twenty years. He was very active in the local waterman’s association and was called on by his fellow watermen to be their spokesman, championing their causes on numerous occasions over the years. After his wife’s death in 1986, Mr. Butler retired and moved to Delaware where he reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Betty Lecates Vane. They lived in Delaware for a number of years before relocating to Florida. Mr. Butler remained in Florida after Betty’s death in 1999, moving to Missouri two years ago to be close to his sister, Isabel Butler Fleetwood, in her last years and his nephew, Dr. Scott C. Fleetwood. His favorite hobbies included bowling, fishing and playing golf with his brother and friends. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his brothers, Bruce E. Butler, Jr., Elmer Butler, Franklin (Barney) Butler, Kenneth (Hutch) Butler and Joseph Butler and his sisters, Isabel Fleetwood and Lucille Elliott. He leaves nieces and nephews to cherish his memory. A memorial service will be held on January 8, 2017 at 11am at Framptom Funeral Home in Federalsburg, MD with Reverend Denzil Cheek officiating. A calling hour will be held from 10-11am prior to the service. Inurnment will be held at Junior Order Cemetery in Preston, MD.