Elsie Janet Butler

Elsie Janet (Bailey) Butler

Elsie Janet (Bailey) Butler, age 82, passed away Monday, June 30, 2025, at home in Wharton, Texas. Jan was born December 29, 1942, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Harold (Bill) Thorndyke and Jane (Daly) Bailey. She was the oldest of three children and spent her childhood growing up mostly in the Cincinnati area, with her freshman year of high school spent in Anchorage, Alaska. She graduated from Milford High School in Milford, Ohio, in 1961.

Jan married her high school sweetheart, Jim Butler, in 1961 and dedicated her life to caring for him and their family. While Jim was in the Marines, Jan lived in North Carolina and Kentucky. After, Jim’s job took them to Apple Valley, Minnesota, then Plano, Texas, and finally Wharton, Texas, where they lived for the past 43 years. Along the way, Jan stayed very busy raising two sons and two daughters and working 40+ years at Eldridge Air Conditioning in Wharton.

All who knew Jan will remember her as a selfless, generous, and kind person who was utterly devoted to her family and always put others’ needs ahead of her own. She loved playing ping-pong, dining out, working jigsaw puzzles, spending time with her children and grandchildren, and especially jitterbug dancing with Jim.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Jim Butler, as well as their son and daughter-in-law Jim and Jill Butler of Austin, Texas, son and daughter-in-law Bob and Laura Butler of Salt Lake City, Utah, daughter and son-in-law Lea and Jack Squires of The Woodlands, Texas, and daughter Jacki Butler of Wharton, Texas. She is also survived by her brother Harold Bailey Jr. of Cincinnati, Ohio, seven grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. We will all miss our Mom, Grandma and Mukluk very, very much.

Condolences can be left at Whartonfuneralhome.com