Mike J Butler

Mike Butler, 66, of Shuqualak, MS passed away at Noxubee General Hospital in Macon, MS on Sunday, April 21, 2019. His funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 25, at Butler Pentecostal Church near Shuqualak at 11:00 A.M. Bro. Gerald Butler will officiate. Interment will follow at Butler Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. at the church. Memorials are requested to be directed to St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, Fla. 33607. Cockrell Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the funeral arrangements.

Mike Butler was born on March 21, 1953 to the late Joe C. and Christine Goodin Butler and was raised in the Butler community of Noxubee County, MS.  While he was in his teens, his family and he moved to the town of Shuqualak. He attended Noxubee High School and then transferred to Central Academy in Macon, MS where he was a member of the first graduating class of the newly formed school.  At Central Academy, he played football and led his team from the quarterback position to an undefeated season in 1971. He also played baseball for the school. In March of 1978 he married the former Miss Edie Rigdon.  Mike worked for the Deerbrook Company near Brooksville on their cattle ranch for several years. He and his family later moved back to Shuqualak where he owned his own bull-dozer business. Most recently, he began working for the Mississippi State Forestry Commission, from which he retired in October of 2017 as a ranger. After his retirement, Mike enjoyed spending time on his small farm near Shuqualak and spending all the time he possibly could with his grandchildren. Mike was a member of First United Methodist Church. He enjoyed team roping, training horses and turkey hunting. Mike’s greatest joy, however, was his son, Clint, who grew up to be not only a son, but Mike’s best friend. Clint went on to bless Mike’s life even further by providing him with four grandchildren.

Mike Butler is survived by his wife: Edie, of Shuqualak and by their son: Clint Butler (Liz) of Starkville, MS. He is also survived by one sister: Shirley Sciple (Ronald) of Shuqualak and by four grandchildren: Colton Butler, Harper Butler, Reece Butler, and Emmy Butler. Mike was preceded in death by his parents and by one sister: Ann Lanier (Cecil)