Kathleen Bethaney Coning Butler

Kathleen Bethaney Coning Butler

Born: September 23, 1934 Died: March 18, 2023

Kathleen Bethaney Butler, 88, of Carpenters Campground, was at home surrounded by her family on Saturday, March 18, when the time of her departure arrived. She had fought a good fight, finished her course, and kept the faith. She stepped forward to receive the crown of righteousness laid up for her.

She was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 70 years, Pearson Butler; parents, William A. “Bill” and Mary Netta Best Coning; sister, Julia (Don) Swaney; daughter-in-law, Donna Dotson Butler; and granddaughter Bethaney Butler. She is survived by sons: William (Robin True) Butler and James Butler; her niece she called “the daughter I never had”: Teresa Swaney (Scott) Edmondson; grandchildren: Tyler (Autumn) Butler of Kenmore, Washington and Megan Butler of Oak Ridge; brothers: Albert (Betty) Coning and Frank (Janis) Coning; and many nieces and nephews to whom she was just “Aunty.”

Kathleen was a lifetime, active member of Mountain View Church of Christ (Christian). For many years, if the doors were open, she was there. She often taught in the Sunday School and sang in the choir. Her family will always hold her dear as the rock who grounded them all.

She was always working: on the farm, in the garden, mowing yards, in the house, or wherever work needed to be done. If she and her sister Julia were together, as they often were, they were a dynamic force to be reckoned with. Her formal working life was centered in the school food service, first as a lunchroom cook then as manager at Eagleton Elementary and later Eagleton Middle School.

She loved travelling. She went to Hawaii with her niece, to Papua New Guinea to see her son and his family, and to numerous U.S. cities with a variety of fellow lunchroom workers for the annual School Food Service Association national conventions. In later years, she and Pearson were daily out on the roads of the region, touring around, especially in Cades Cove.

She loved to cook. Her hand-squeezed rolls were legendary contributions to many church fellowship dinners and other occasions, like family Christmas dinners.

The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 22 at Mountain View Church of Christ, 3102 Six Mile Road, Maryville. Celebration of Life service will follow at 7:00 p.m. with William Butler officiating. Family and friends will gather at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, March 23, at Carpenters Campground Cemetery for graveside service and burial.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mountain View Church of Christ or Johnson University (Class of ’76 Fund).