Delela Joyce Butler, 80, of Shelbyville, passed away December 11, 2024, in Cabot, Arkansas. She was born February 11, 1942, in Booneville, Kentucky, to the late Elmer and Ella Baker.
Joyce, as she liked to be called, was married to the late Bobby Dean Butler of Shelbyville, TN. Husband and wife for 56 years, they met in Fort Ord, Ca., where they shared the oath of military service in the U.S. Army. Serving throughout the United States and Europe, this allowed them the chance to travel. Of the many places they have lived, Germany was the best of them all, where weekends were for traveling to wine country, historic castles and Christkindlmarkt's during Christmas.
A veteran of the U.S. Army, Joyce served honorably for 20 years as a nurse, where her assignments have taken her to many countries. Upon retiring from active duty, she continued serving as a nurse at the Veterans Administration, providing care to her fellow veterans.
Joyce relished the warm months of summer and enjoyed being outdoors. An avid gardener, it wasn't uncommon for her to volunteer you to 'snap beans' when it was time for canning.
She embraced the time spent together. If she was grinning at you, you knew to grab a big bowl and find a comfortable chair; you're going to be there a while.
Joyce is a member of the Moose Lodge of Shelbyville, the Elks Lodge of Oklahoma, the V.F.W., the Baptist Church and a member of the Retired Enlisted Association.
Joyce is survived by her son, Brian (Michelle) Butler; daughters, Vanessa (Eldon) Sanders, Lisa (Thomas) Mansfield; brother, Carl Lee Baker; sister, Linda Crocker; nine grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother, Roger Baker.
"A Gathering of Friends and Celebration of Life" will be held Saturday, September 13th, at Hillcrest Funeral Home in Shelbyville from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Afterwards, Joyce will be laid to rest at the Jones Family Cemetery next to her husband, Bobby Dean Butler.
