Lawrence (Ghost) Butler

Lawrence “Ghost” Butler, Jr., 66, died Feb. 12, 2020, at Oak Ridge Nursing home in El Dorado following a short illness.  Born August 7, 1953, in Camden, Arkansas, he was the third of six children of the late Lawrence Butler, Sr., and Lottie Lee Butler.

Lawrence attended Lincoln High School in Camden, where at an early age he became a member of St. James A.M.E. Church.  He moved to El Dorado and began working as a contractor for the Lion Oil refinery and then worked at the recycling department of the city of El Dorado.  In El Dorado, he joined Greater Paradise Baptist Church, where he remained a faithful member until his health began to fail.  He was married to Debra Ann Butler for 29 years, and they had two daughters: Crystal Michelle Butler, now of Newport, AR, and Sanjuna Watkins of Little Rock.

Lawrence was a pleasant, quiet man and a sharp dresser.  He enjoyed life, and everyone liked him; he never met a stranger.  He loved his family and friends and especially his church family.  Most of all, he loved the Lord.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his grandparents and one sister, Betty Ann Butler Bryson of Omaha, Nebraska.

He leaves to cherish his memory his two daughters; his wife; one sister, Zetella Butler Bonner (Marshall) of El Dorado; three brothers—Larry Butler (Rosemary) and Barry Butler, both from Camden, and Bobby J. Butler (Gloria) of El Dorado; his wife’s sisters, Doris (Harold) Ward ,Renae Curly and Latanya Miles of Eldorado; and three brothers-in-law Chris Miles (Angie), Ricky Miles (Elizabeth), and Russell Miles, all of El Dorado; his mother-in-law, Joyce Miles Westbrook of El Dorado; 17 grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.  In addition, he will be remembered by longtime friends including Randall Wilson, Charles Terry, Robert “Strawberry” Hill, and B.T. Thompson, and special friend Cassandra Murphy.

God saw Lawrence was getting tired and a cure was not to be, so He put His arms around him and said, “Lawrence, come to me.” 

We watched him suffer briefly and quickly slip away. Though we loved him dearly, we could not make him stay. His golden heart stopped beating, his hard hands to rest.

God broke our hearts to prove He only takes the best.2 Timothy 4:7 says, “I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course.  I have kept the faith.”  This was true of Lawrence.

Public Visitation will be Friday, February 21, 2020, from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Sims Mortuary, Funeral Service will be Saturday, February 22, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. at Greater Paradise Missionary Baptist Church. Interment will be at Eternal Rest Cemetery under the direction of Sims Mortuary. Sign the guestbook at simsmortuary.com