John Gregory Butler

John Gregory Butler, better known as Greg, but referred to by many as “Booger” was born on February 23, 1967 to Johnny and Isabel Butler. He joined an older sister, nine-year-old, Shannon. Upon listening to a colicky baby cry for hours Shannon had to wonder why her mama ever brought him home. Greg was a cute little fella and was the intended victim of a baby napping when his older cousin Jeffery wanted to put him in paper sack and carry him home with him.

Greg grew up in Happy Hollow beside his grandparents, Bill and Loudell Butler. Greg often found himself in trouble. Papa Bill was out in the yard burning leaves one day. He had already told Greg to go on home. Greg slipped back down to their house and played in the fire resulting in setting the woods along with Papa Bill’s outhouse on fire.  Greg loved his Mama Butler. He was very protective of her. Papa Bill and Mama Butler were having a disagreement and Greg wasn’t too happy about it. Papa Bill retreated to the bedroom to take a nap. Greg being the mischievous thing he was, slipped around back and put the water hose in Papa Bill’s window. He almost drowned the sleeping Papa Bill. Papa Bill wasn’t the only victim of Greg’s antics.  At the age of three, Isabel bought Greg a pellet gun that shot those little plastic yellow beads. There was a bee nest on the porch and Johnny told Greg he was going to pop those bees with that pellet gun and for him to open the screen door so he could run in when he did. Johnny shot, bees swarmed, Greg did as he was told and ran in and shut the door and locked it. Johnny didn’t fare so well with those bees. He was stung about a dozen times. Greg came by his mischievous ways honestly with uncles Carlton and Jimmy as role models. He also learned some colorful language at an early age thanks to Uncle Cart. Just ask his brother-in-law Mike. Mike often caught some of this language when he would come over to see Shannon.

Greg had a wonderful relationship with bicycles. One day while Isabel and Johnny were at work, Shannon was in charge of Greg. He wanted to go outside to play and she didn’t want to go out with him. She told him to go on out and play. A little while later some Georgia Power workers heard a groaning and they went to investigate and found Greg plowed into a tree, (the chain had broken on his bicycle and he went flying down Happy Hollow Road). They went to the house and asked Shannon if she had a little blond-haired brother. They ended up taking him to Dr. Long’s office where they found he had broken both arms at the growth plate, had a concussion and busted his mouth up. His top teeth were pushed up into his gums. You’d think he would have given bikes up. That wasn’t the case. Johnny got him a speedometer for his bicycle. Some of the neighborhood boys were egging him on when he told them he could get up to 60 mph on that bicycle. Greg came flying down North Chestatee Street from the old school. Just as Greg was approaching the intersection at Hawkins Street a car ran the stop sign and Greg t-boned it. He went flying over the top of the car and landed on the ground on the other side. The occupants of the car got out yelling he’s dead, he’s dead and Greg was laying there on the ground patting himself down thinking he was dead and that he was looking down on the whole scene. He thought he was having an out of body experience.

Greg had a large family and was surrounded by cousins. Jeff and Ricky were more like brothers to Greg than cousins. He loved them both dearly. Greg also had many friends growing up. He would often talk of the good times he had with the Gooch boys, Steve, Wayne and Jeff.

Greg grew up in church and was saved at an early age. He loved hearing Ed Grizzle and Lyman Caldwell preach the gospel. He was a member of Friendship Baptist Church.

During the end of his senior year of high school Greg met Sandy. He often told her that she was the love of his life. They were married on June 29^th, 1985. On January 16^th, 1987 they added another Butler to the family. Brett had his daddy wrapped around his finger. Five years later on September 16^th 1992 another Butler was added to the family when Cody came along. Both Greg and Sandy worked 2^nd shift at Pinetree. Greg had worked there 10 years (painting during the day and working there at night) when he finally quit to paint full time. Greg would work during the day and take care of the boys in the evening while Sandy worked. He took them to their ballgames and fed and bathed them and got them ready for bed. He loved those two boys with everything he had and made sure they had everything they wanted.  

Greg started his painting career when he was 15 years old, helping his uncle Jimmy Butler. He finally decided it was time to go out on his own. His desire was to have a big company like his daddy Johnny. After many years of hard work, sacrifice and sheer determination, Greg reached that goal. He never forgot where he came from though. He was a simple man who was happy with the simple things in life. He hated to get dressed up but would do it because Sandy told him too.

Greg had a love for people, he never met a stranger. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He believed in treating people like he would want to be treated. Greg would always make sure the customer was happy with a job before he left. If something wasn’t right, he would make sure it was corrected. He loved his customers and all the builders he worked for. He also loved his paint crew. Upon getting sick and going in the hospital, he told Sandy to make sure she kept the boys in work.

Greg loved to cruise. He thought that was the perfect vacation. He got to see the beautiful islands of the Caribbean and had a cruise booked for November that would have taken him to Aruba, Curaçao and the Dominican Republic. Plans were in the works for an Alaskan cruise next year. He also wanted to take the camper and travel out west. What Greg is seeing at this moment is more beautiful than anything that is down here on this earth.

Greg was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer in May. Although he knew that it was going to be a battle it was one that he was ready to fight. He told Sandy that he was right with the Lord and it was the Lord’s Will that was to be done. He had accepted his fate; his concern was for his family. He loved his family dearly and wanted to make sure that they would be taken care of.

Greg last saw his family on July 23^rd. On July 24^th while leaving the hospital Greg broke his leg and had to be admitted to ER. Other issues with a failed stent resulted in him getting Sepsis. Thirteen days after breaking his leg, he finally had surgery to put a rod in to stabilize it. He kept fighting. He lost his fight on August 14^th, but he gained his reward. There is no doubt that Greg is in Heaven with his Lord and his body is healed and he hurts no more.

Greg was preceded in death by his father; Johnny Butler; step-father, Ray Sullens; paternal grandparents, Bill and Loudell Butler; maternal grandparents, Armus and Linnie Brooksher; Sister, Rhonda Butler.

Greg is survived by his wife of 35 years, Sandy Butler, Dahlonega; sons and daughter-in-law Brett (Amanda) Butler, Dahlonega and Cody Butler (girlfriend, Megan Ritchie), Dahlonega; granddaughters, Ella-Kate and Kollyns Butler, Dahlonega; mother, Isabel Butler Sullens, Dahlonega; sister, Shannon (Mike) Fraser, Talmo; step-brothers, Justin Butler, Charleston, SC, Taylor (Michelle) Butler, Washington, DC; David (Dana) Sullens, Dahlonega; Vernon Sullens, Dahlonega; step-sisters, Ashley Butler, Charleston, SC; Janet Allison, Dahlonega; Betsy Brown, Dahlonega; nephews: Jody Fraser, Talmo; Dylan Cain, Dawsonville; nieces: Casey Fraser, Gainesville; Ashley Cain, Dawsonville; great nephew, Bryce Fraser, Talmo; great niece, Amelia Hamill, Dawsonville; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bruce and Betty Cain, Dahlonega; brother-in-law, Dale Cain, Dahlonega; step-mother, Kathy Butler McLendon, Charleston, SC; several other relatives and last but surely no less loved than all his human family, is his beloved dog Sophie, who misses him terribly.