Donnie Da Butler

Donnie Da Butler, 71, died Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at an Abilene medical center. The family will receive friends at a visitation from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, December 14, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. The daughter of the late Zena Da (McMeans) and Nelson Franklin Donahoo, Donnie was born on October 17, 1942 in Knox City, Texas. She was a 1961 graduate of Abilene High School and attended Tarleton State University. Donnie worked in Abilene for Davis Kinard & Co., and in the early 1970’s began working for the Texas Employment Commission in Austin, Texas. Her career with TEC brought her back to Abilene in 1978. In the mid-1990’s she began working for Unemployment Tax Advisory Co., a job that took her back to Austin, to Dallas, and in 2002 returned her to Abilene where she retired from the State of Texas in 2004. Donnie was a devoted mother, grandmother, daughter and sister. She was always at the center of fun, and was a gracious hostess and entertainer. She was an encourager and supporter of her family and friends, always allowing others to make life decisions that fit their purpose and made them happy. Throughout her life, Donnie dealt with situations that might befall her with grace and strength. Most recently, she found encouragement in the Bible Study Group she attended at Beltway Park Baptist Church. She enjoyed needle work, quilting and sewing. Donnie is survived by her son, Greg Butler and wife Elizabeth of Milford, Kansas; brother, Nelson Donahoo and wife Linda of Fuquay Varina, North Carolina; sister, Angela Avery and husband James of Abilene; three grandchildren, James Butler, Hannah Butler and Ethan Butler; one niece and one nephew, as well as a dear family friend, Patsy Zimmerlee, with whom Donnie spent time and travelled. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or to the donor’s charity of choice.