Extracted from The Houston Chronicle (Houston, TX)
Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Howard Butter

H.D. “Don” Butter he was born on March 5, 1935 in Harris County Texas where he grew up in Humble, a small town now surrounded by Houston. It was there during his formative years that personal traits developed which guided his actions for the rest of his life. Most importantly he became a Christian due to the constant influence of loving Christian parents, Howard and Ethel Butter who predeceased Don. Honor, integrity, commitment, dependability and concern for others were evident in the life that followed.

It was during his high school years that he met and ultimately convinced the love of his life, Sylvia Ann Smith to join him on life's journey. They married on August 31, 1956. After graduating from high school, four years followed at Texas A & M College, now University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering and was also commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army. For the next several years time was split between his commitment to the U.S. Army and his assignments in the chemical and petroleum industry. A variety of assignments with steadily increasing responsibility and multiple companies ensued including 25 years with Conoco. He returned to Conoco, now ConocoPhillips, when ConocoPhillips purchased the E-Gas Technology. He worked an additional 10 more years with ConocoPhillips. He then left ConocoPhillips, when the E-Gas Technology was sold to Lummus Co., in early 2013, and went with the E-Gas Technology to CB&I where he retired April 16, 2014 after a career of 57 years in the petro-chemical industry.

The nature of the business assignments created the opportunity for travel throughout the world and associated with that travel came many occasions for Sylvia to join him. Throughout his business career he often reflected upon the diversity of his experiences as well as his good fortune to develop a variety of friends and colleagues through those years. Don served as a Councilor, Trustee and on the Executive Committee of the Texas A&M Research Foundation for many years. He was also a registered professional engineer in the State of Texas. He also served in several capacities in church related activities. Probably the most challenging of those was teaching for several years a Sunday school class comprised of teenagers, but he also considered it one of the most rewarding. Don was most proud of his faith, a source of inspiration and strength and his family, his source of constant love and encouragement. He was indeed fortunate to share a long, loving and rewarding life of 58 years together with Sylvia.

Sylvia now survives Don along with their beloved children Donna Lynn (Butter) Ray and her husband Thomas, and Howard Gregory Butter. Also, surviving is Makena (Ray) Chesney, grand-daughter, and her husband Greg and great-grand daughter Payton Chesney and Tory Ray. Additional survivor is brother James R. Butter and his wife along with numerous nieces and nephews.

The burial service will be at Brookside Funeral Home, 13747 Eastex Freeway, Houston, Texas 77039. (281.449.6511) The public viewing will be May 9, 2014 at the funeral home between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. The chapel service will be held on May 10, 2014 and begin at 3:00 p.m. at the same funeral home. Once the chapel service is complete a graveside service will be conducted immediately after the chapel service. The service will be conducted at Brookside Chapel and Dr. Robert Creech, Hubert H. the Gladys S. Raborn Professor of Pastoral Leadership at the George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University in Waco, Texas will officiate the service. The Honorary Pallbearers will be; Thomas D. Ray, Gregory P. Chesney, Dr. Donovan Butter, Rev. Randy Butter, Col. Jeffry S. Butter - USMC Retired, William R. Schultz, Matthew DeWitt, Shimon Borik, Commissioner Jack Cagle - Precinct 4 (Harris County Texas), Honorable Donnie McMannes - Mayor Humble, Texas, Sam Houston, IV, Dr. Barton Griffith, Dr. F. Kurtis Kasper, Dr. Matthew B. Murphy, Archie Dunham, Dr. Stewart Morris, Jim Bowden, Ray Calfee, Doak Wilson, Hai Nguyen, Jay Monroe, Art Zamora, John Bright. Thereafter, a memorial service will be observed at the graveside at Brookside Cemetery and will be conducted by Dr. Robert Creech.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, 2222 Welborn Street, Dallas, Texas 75219 (214.559.5000, 800.421.1121) or to your favorite charity.