Mary Ann Butler, age 87, passed away Sunday Jan. 24, 2021, at 6:02 a.m. while under the care of Good Shepard Hospice. Mary is the daughter of Harvey A. Bybee and Vesta Gertrude (Sapp) Bybee. Her parents had 7 children, 3 girls and 4 boys. Mary was born Dec. 16, 1933 in Cross Timbers, MO, near Sapp’s Landing (which is named after her mother’s family). After moving to a farm north of Wheatland, she graduated from Avery School in 1952. That same year on November 8th she married Dean Lafayette Butler (son of Oliver Lafayette Butler and Ethel Olive (Hinkle) Butler, at the home of Freddie Bill Glazebrook, a local pastor. To this union 5 children were born: Leon Dean Butler /spouse Darla, Randal Keith Butler, Deena Ann (Butler) Waddell /spouse Dennis, Tammy Diane Butler and Brian Curtis Butler. The couple resided in Kansas City, MO, then moved to Blue Springs, MO. and later to a farm in Grain Valley, MO. Mary was a loving mother and wife who enjoyed parenting and keeping the peace with 5 rowdy children. When her children were older, she took a job at Action Products. There she formed lifelong friendships. In May 1979, Mary (at age 45) and Dean lost their son, Randy, in a motorcycle accident. Just four short years later she was widowed when Dean sadly died of lung cancer. She moved off the farm and to a home in Grain Valley. Never outwardly bitter or angry by these life changing losses, she proudly surrounded herself with things she loved – country music, collecting cookie jars, and crocheting afghans while enjoying her 5 beautiful grandchildren, Katy Butler, Jackie (Butler) Martin, Zane Butler, Nicole (Waddell) Quinn and Colleen Waddell. Her grandchildren further brightened her world with six great grandchildren, and happy news of a seventh on the way. Mary loved the holidays and proudly enjoyed the signature events in her kids, grandchildren’s, and nieces and nephew’s lives, including weddings, graduations, adoptions, and births of babies. She even got to travel a bit to Wisconsin, Nashville, TN., Memphis, TN.  and Pella, IA. to the Tulip Festival. Declining health and memory loss limited her freedoms these last few years. She will be sadly missed by her children, her grandchildren and all who knew her. She was a sweet, strong, and loyal lady who loved her family. They were her whole world.  

Mary is preceded in death by her husband Dean, her son Randy, her parents Harvey and Vesta Bybee, her sisters, Lucille Breshears and Erma Brown, brothers Herbert Eulan Bybee and Tommy Dean Bybee (as an infant). Visitation will be held at 9:30 A.M. followed by a memorial service at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO with graveside services at 2:30 P.M.at the Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery, at Wheatland, MO. The family requests in lieu of flowers contributions be made in Mary’s name to Good Shepard Hospice of Independence, MO.

Arrangements:  Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO   816-847-4441