SFC Gail Thomas “Tom” Butler, Jr., 77, of Lexington passed away November 3, 2020 at Lafayette Regional Health Center. Visitation will be Saturday, November 7, 2020 from 6:00 until 8:00 pm at Walker-Nadler-Fuller Funeral Home, Lexington. Funeral service will be at 2:00 pm, Sunday, November 8, 2020 at the funeral home. Burial, with Military Honors will be at Lexington Memory Gardens Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Walker-Nadler-Fuller Funeral Home, 1720 South Street, Lexington, MO 64067, 660-259-2245. Memories and condolences may be left at
www.LedfordFamilyFH.com. Memorials may be made to the Lexington Historical Museum or the Wentworth Museum.
Tom was born June 3, 1943 in Kansas City, Missouri to Gail Thomas Butler, Sr and Gladys Imogene (Aubuchon) Butler. He graduated from Lexington High School in 1962 and earned an Associates in Business Degree from Wentworth Military Academy in 1964. He married Christie Sue Magnuson in 1966, sharing 53 + wonderful years. Tom retired from the United States Army where he earned, among other awards, the Army Commendation Medal, 2nd Award, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon and the Expert Marksmanship Badge Rifle. Tom served in many roles at Wentworth Military Academy, retiring as Assistant Commandant. He was a 70 year member of the Boy Scouts of America, a member of Tribe Mic-O-Say, the Order of the Arrow and Alpha Phi Omega Psi Gamma Chapter. Tom was a Taekwondo Martial Arts Instructor, earning his 4th Degree Black Belt, a Lexington Reserve Police Officer, a Lexington Volunteer Fireman, and also a member of American Legion, Lexington Historical Society and WMA Museum.
Survivors include his wife, Christie of the home; daughter, Amy Butler of Lexington; grandchildren, Cody Skaggs and Ramsey Skaggs of Lexington and DeAnna McAboy of Shawnee, Kansas; and great grandchildren, Thomas McLaughlin and Sky McLaughlin of Shawnee, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his parents and his foster parents, William and Edith Eakin.