ForeverMissed
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Ned loved his dogs.

Ned Coy Butler, 75, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family in Austin, Texas, on the evening of January 2, 2018, as a result of the esophageal cancer he was diagnosed with on July 3, 2017.

Ned is survived by his wife of over 45 years, Carla Miles Butler; his daughter, Meredith Miles Maycotte and husband, H.O., of Austin, Texas; his two sons, Ned C. Butler III, “Trey” and wife, C.J., of Midland, Texas and Bradley Huddleston Butler of Austin, Texas; and three loving granddaughters, Marin Mersenne Maycotte (11), Maslow Marcelle Maycotte (8) and Blakely Elise Butler (6 months). He is also survived by his siblings, Terry Butler of Aspen, Colorado; Karen Foster of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Gary Butler of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and his beloved black lab, Macie.

While we knew Ned was suffering from a terminal illness, none of us felt like the end would be so immediately near.

Ultimately, we are grateful he didn’t suffer for many more months or years, but knowing that he wasn’t ready to leave this earth made his passing difficult to accept for us all. We wanted more time.

An enlightened social worker told us that a person dies in the manner in which they lived. That’s how Ned went. He fought until his very last breath … that’s who he was. If there was one thing you could count on, it was Ned Coy doing exactly what he told you he was going to do. Integrity and loyalty were truly things he believed in. The social worker also shared with us that Ned confided in her his only regret was that he didn’t have a new football player in the family … but we’re not giving up hope that one day he’ll get to watch that happen.

As a modern day Davy Crockett, Ned’s reputation for hunting and storytelling will forever echo across the plains and canyons of West Texas. Ned’s passion for the outdoors and living the simple life was second only to the love he had for his family. While Ned was a true mountain man, who may have been born 100 years too late, he was also cutting edge enough to dabble in the latest high tech cameras and flight simulator computer games (we won’t mention that old flip phone that he just couldn’t let go of).

Ned was full of curious juxtapositions: he uniquely balanced being both an intellectual and a strongman athlete, a fine artist and an aggressive criminal attorney, a man of few words who was also full of endless stories, he enjoyed solitude and was very social, he was a stickler for enforcing and abiding by the law and liked to do things his own way, he was a giant man with an intimidating bellow who also had an easily-melted teddy bear heart, and so many more. All this simply added to the mystery that was Ned.

An impeccable photographic memory, an instinctive sharpshooter, a delicate craftsman, a generous caretaker to his aging mother and stepfather, Mr. Fix-it, a fair and even mediator, a dog lover, a Blue Bell ice cream fanatic, and the most skilled venison butcher and griller were all roles he mastered, punctuated by his, “I can and will do it … especially if you tell me it is impossible,” attitude toward life.

Anyone who knew Ned most certainly asked for—and greatly valued—his informed and honest advice on something important in their lives. And anyone who knew Ned most certainly was inspired by how unbelievably tough he was. And at the heart of it all, he was a kind gentleman to the very end who loved his kids more than life itself. Everyone who had the chance to spend time in Ned's presence is better for it. Ned will be so very missed.

A burial and graveside service will be held in his birthplace, Hobbs, New Mexico, on Saturday, January 27, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. New Mexico time. He will be laid to rest with his parents who preceded him in death, Jewel Huddleston Butler (2016) and Ned C. Butler (1963), and near his grandparents and several other family members who are laid to rest at Prairie Haven Cemetery at 2101 E. Stanolind Road.


Immediately following the burial, a reception to celebrate Ned's life will be held at his eldest son’s home in Midland, Texas.

Memorial donations may be made to to Hospice Austin in his name:
http://www.hospiceaustin.org

 

Tributes

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Terry Butler
April 1, 2023
April 1, 2023
Just to say,
That even though it’s been five years, I still miss Ned every day of my life. He filled so many roles in the lives of all of us who were close to him. There will never be another person like Ned Butler. He was one of a kind . We love you Ned.
D Stratton
June 17, 2019
June 17, 2019
He was my stepfather. Perhaps the most honest man I ever met in my life. I respected him. He taught me things a man should know. I am saddened to hear of his passing.
Terry Butler
April 2, 2019
April 2, 2019
Since Ned died last year, there is a constant hole in my life. He occupied such a large part of the family support system. We were 12 months apart, and grew up like twins. Bonds like that last a lifetime.
Ned was someone like my daddy. When they entered a room, one always felt a special presence. They both waked softly, but carried a big stick. Men to be admired. Men you wanted near. Not a day goes by that I don't miss him. We all still miss and love you, Ned. Life is not as much fun as it used to be.
Evelyn & Roland Fraser
February 7, 2018
February 7, 2018
Dear Carla and family, Roland and Ned met at Gunshows and became instant friends, Roland visited him in the winter for years. He was a funny guy full of love and patience. They shared the passion for guns and hunting since Roland was a graduated gunsmith from CO. All our sympathy and prayers goes to him and his family. He and Roland sent each other jokes and stories on e-mail all the time. Roland is heart-broken and will miss him as long as he lives.
James Sayles
January 29, 2018
January 29, 2018
Ned and I became best friends the summer between the 6th and 7th grade, riding our bicycles out to the undeveloped land along Elm Creek south of S.14th, and it should be no surprise to learn that we either had our BB guns, wooden longbows, or .22's with us. We were "brothers" in every sense of the word other than genetic, and the world is emptier for me now that he is gone. But to my own dying day I will love him and cherish every memory etched on my heart.
Joe Thweatt
January 26, 2018
January 26, 2018
You will be missed Ned. While I still do not drive “one of those hybrid cars” I will always have great memories of your dry humor and outlandish stories. Great life for a good man.

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Recent Tributes
Terry Butler
April 1, 2023
April 1, 2023
Just to say,
That even though it’s been five years, I still miss Ned every day of my life. He filled so many roles in the lives of all of us who were close to him. There will never be another person like Ned Butler. He was one of a kind . We love you Ned.
D Stratton
June 17, 2019
June 17, 2019
He was my stepfather. Perhaps the most honest man I ever met in my life. I respected him. He taught me things a man should know. I am saddened to hear of his passing.
Terry Butler
April 2, 2019
April 2, 2019
Since Ned died last year, there is a constant hole in my life. He occupied such a large part of the family support system. We were 12 months apart, and grew up like twins. Bonds like that last a lifetime.
Ned was someone like my daddy. When they entered a room, one always felt a special presence. They both waked softly, but carried a big stick. Men to be admired. Men you wanted near. Not a day goes by that I don't miss him. We all still miss and love you, Ned. Life is not as much fun as it used to be.
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Ned Butler Memorial
Ned loved football.
Ned as a young man.
Ned loved the outdoors.
Ned's last hunting trip. It was a tremendous success.
Ned loved his dogs.
Recent stories
April 1, 2022
by Terry Butler
Ned and I were really more like twins rather than brother and sister.  I’m not sure that either of us knew I was a girl until I was a junior in high school .I grew up playing football with Ned and all his football buddies.
We were inseparable except for the time we spent in school.  
That of course didn’t mean we got along or in any way ever acted like we ever liked each other.
We fought like cats and dogs.
I was a wild tomboy,
and Ned felt it was his moral duty to keep me in line.
Of course,
Ned being my mother’s favorite, escaped punishment most of the time, while I was relegated to “doing the time” in my room……him laughing all the time.
Admittedly, I was rather a rascal.
The worst it ever got was when he would chase me out the front door
With a huge kitchen knife held high…..in order to end my young life, as soon as he caught me!!!
Ah ha,
that was the catch!!!
He never caught me.  
Even though he was the big football star, I was skinny and nimble, and I could just outrun him!!!  How he hated that.  
Flying out that front door, screaming and laughing like two wild Indians, we would go!! I can still hear the bang of the screen door as it slammed closed.  I can still see the old, bent, neighbor lady smoking her cigarette, who witnessed the would be murderous event almost daily….saying, “there go the Butler kids again, as we flew down the street!
Ned in hot pursuit. 
How I cherish those memories.
There is not a day that I don’t feel a deep sadness inside from missing Ned.
He had a profound influence on my life, and still does.
Eventhough, he lives in a world beyond, I feel him near often.
How lucky I was to have had a brother like Ned.
Thank you,
Lord.

The Fear of Flying

April 1, 2022
by James Sayles
Ned was in one of the planes flying to El Paso for a regional football playoff, and that 
fear stayed with him when he and I made a trip to Mexico to visit his sister, Terry. Terry's boyfriend at that time had a private plane piloted by a WW2 Mexican pilot, and we were flown in that twin engine plane up to a mountain air strip where we were going to go on a guided
hunt in the Chihuaua Mountain range. Unfortunately for Ned, Carlos showed off his piloting skills by flying close to the mountain with wing tilts. And it was all Ned could do to keep from barfing.

Later, when we were flying home our DC-6 had engine failure, and we had to wait overnight for the mechanics to fix the engine. In that interim Ned made the decision to make the return trip to Texas in a bus. How I miss him, especially when I am hunting or fishing. Some of the best days of my life were spent with him.    

The Teacher

January 26, 2018
by Carl Galant

"Intimidation" had a lasting impact on my life, as did many of my friends' fathers. But my experiences with Intimidation were a little different. It began with fear around sixth grade, created by his broad shoulders, slow neck turn, and bellowing voice. Over time I came to understand that, while Intimidation was true to his appearance, he was much more than that.  Among many other things, he was a teacher to his kids and their friends. I learned to listen carefully, because he spoke intentionally.  I learned to think before I spoke, because, like a good prosecutor, he would challenge your words if not carefully crafted. I learned loyalty and trust, because he and his family gave it to me. And I learned that, if you were his friend, you felt comfort knowing his broad shoulders always had your back. I know he was a good teacher, because I can use all these traits to describe his children.

One story explains the contrast between his outside and inside, or at least my perception of it.  It was an early morning dove hunt to somewhere east of Waco, when Trey, Bradley and I loaded up with Mr. Butler in that old silver and black suburban.  I in the seat directly behind Mr. Butler, Trey in the passenger seat, and Bradley next to me in the back. Mr. Butler had cooked some ribs for us the night before that were not sitting well with me. I mean really not sitting well.  I kept fighting back the need to vomit, drooling and sweating with discomfort, not letting on to anyone how I felt. What would Mr. Butler think if I had to detour or cancel his hunt? How could I tell him the ribs made me sick? I had to keep it down. I could not reveal my weakness to Intimidation. The cycle of fear and discomfort rolled with each half mile until the opportunity to debate myself ended somewhere on Hwy 79. 

I didn't recognize that holding my fingers over my mouth would increase the pressure. It was like I held my thumb over the end of a hose and pointed the vomit machine directly at him.  Vomit spewed, at high velocity, all over Mr. Butler's head and neck in front of me.  You cannot imagine the fear and embarrasment.

While Trey and Bradley were scrambling in surprise, and I was frozen in disbelief, Mr. Butler never turned around.  He calmly pulled the car over.  I launched out of the car and continued convulsing. Eventually I stopped. And eventually Mr. Butler exited the car and slowly walked to the rear gate.  He had not yet spoken a word. The suspense was worse than the vomit.  I expected some shotgun shells to be thrown around in frustration, or at least an angry stare.  Nope.  He gathered some paper towels and calmly helped me clean up.  He got me back in the car and drove us to a nearby grocery store.  He was almost motherly and comforting, but he still had not spoken a word.  He and I went into the store to clean ourselves up.  Still not a word.  We cleaned the car in the parking lot.  Still not a word.  With the humans and car clean, albiet still smelly, we returned to the road. The sun was starting to rise. We were going to be late. What was going to happen? How pissed was he? This will be the last time I am invited on a hunt. Just say something! Intimindation finally spoke: "Carl, next time just ask me to pull over." There would be a next time.

There were many next times, including my first dear, which I ignorantly gut shot and we tracked until Mr. Butler finally had to put it out of its misery with a knife under a cedar tree.  There was also the time Trey and I swore we had seen a UFO outside of Brady, Texas.  We told the story for 30 minutes in great detail. Mr. Butler was intrigued and surprisingly not doubtful. He patiently waited for us to finish the story, and then that typical grin came across his face and he started to laugh.  He threw a newspaper in front of us, with the headline "Space Shuttle Reenters Earth's Atmosphere Over Central Texas, Seen For Miles." 

Good people. Good lessons. Good memories.  Now we get to keep it going.

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