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A RESOLUTION commemorating and honoring the life of James O. Butts. 1
WHEREAS, James O. Butts was born on New Year's Day, 1934, in St. Louis, 2
Missouri, to Talmadge Butts and Emma Browne Butts; and 3
WHEREAS, James O. Butts moved with his family to Fulton, Kentucky, where he 4
graduated from of Fulton City High School before enlisting in the United States Air 5
Force, where he faithfully served his country during the Korean War; and 6
WHEREAS, after his time in the service, James O. Butts married Patsy Killibrew in 7
1956. He and his lifelong travel partner had two children, Kathy and Jamie; and 8
WHEREAS, James O. Butts began work as a salesman at Office Outfitters in 1956 9
and, in 1965, he bought the company and ran it for 25 years; and 10
WHEREAS, James O. Butts served the Commonwealth of Kentucky as Assistant 11
Treasurer and Assistant Secretary of State, serving in both positions under Frances Jones 12
Mills; and 13
WHEREAS, following his service in state government, James O. Butts returned to 14
Fulton and began a career with the former Fulton Bank, where he served on the board of 15
directors and as president, retiring in 2001; and 16
WHEREAS, James O. Butts valued humanitarian work, serving as a lifelong 17
member of Smith Street Church of Christ, dedicating time as a deacon, elder, and bible 18
study leader, and working to improve higher education as a member of the Freed 19
Hardeman University Board of Trustees for 50 years; and 20
WHEREAS, James O. Butts departed this earthly life on September 13, 2022; and 21
WHEREAS, James O. Butts was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, 22
Virginia Austin and Vivian Wolberton; his nephew, David Austin; and his niece, Susan 23
Wheeler; and 24
WHEREAS, James O. Butts is survived by his wife of 66 years, Patsy; two 25
daughters, Kathy Waycayster and Jamie Hicks; four grandsons, Michael, Blake, Adam, 26
and Connor; six great-grandchildren, Ezekiel, Olivia, Berkeley, Dawson, Sloane, and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 893
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Raden; all whom he cherished; and 1
WHEREAS, James O. Butts contributions to his community and to the 2
Commonwealth leave both a legacy and a void; 3
NOW, THEREFORE, 4
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 5
Kentucky: 6
Section 1. The members of the Senate hereby express their most profound 7
sympathy upon the passing of James O. Butts. 8
Section 2. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 9
Resolution to Senator Jason Howell for delivery to the family. 10