Karen Rae Butler

Karen R. (Dockwell) Butler, age 75, passed from this life on March 15, 2026. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Mary Lou (Ennis) and Lyle M. Dockwell; her husband, John V. Butler and her brother, Mark D. Dockwell. She leaves behind three sons; Victor W. and wife Charity Butler of Tahlequah, OK, Vance and wife Nicole Butler of Claremore, OK and Aaron and wife Allison Butler of Minco, OK; six grandchildren, Victoria and Ella, Lincoln and Grant, Samantha and Andrew; two step-grandsons, Jordan and Dawson; sisters-in-law Sharon Fugate of Edgerton, Wisconsin, Carol Burnett of Boone, Iowa, Cheryl Butler of Nevada, Iowa, Emily Butler, mother of Victoria and Ella, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Karen was born at Fort Dodge, Iowa on March 6, 1951. She grew up on the Dockwell family farm near Latimer, Iowa with her brother. They attended Dows Community Schools and she graduated in May 1969. After high school she attended the Spencer School of Business in Spencer, Iowa. PFC John V. Butler and Karen were united in marriage on March 14, 1970 in Webster City, Iowa. After finishing her Associates Degree in Business at the Spencer School of Business, she was able to join her husband overseas where he was stationed at McKee Barracks, Crailsheim, Germany from 1970 to 1971. They traveled throughout Germany, Austria, Belgium and Holland while stationed there.

After returning to the states, she and her husband settled in Webster City and began their family. During this time she worked as a receptionist for a local attorney and as a receptionist for a local RV sales and service operation. She and John owned and operated an auto/truck repair and small engine sales and service business in Webster City. In 1984 she and her family moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma where John had accepted a Maintenance Director position with Bacon Transport. In 1988, John, Karen and her family moved to Tuttle, Oklahoma. Karen obtained an Executive Medical Assistant diploma in 1992 and worked at the Family Care Center in Tuttle as Senior MA until 1996. She then joined her husband and sons in the family owned and operated Butler and Sons Repair business for a number of years in Tuttle. In 2002, she and John moved to Tahlequah, OK where she joined the administrative staff of Northeastern Health Systems in 2005 starting as unit clerk in the Critical Care Unit and retired in 2020 as Administrative Assistant to the VP of Patient Care. She retired after 15 years of service.

Karen enjoyed crafts of all kinds and tried her hand at oil and acrylic painting and jewelry design. John and Karen were avid horse people. Her greatest love was her husband, family and friends. 

Services will be private at a later date.