Linda Elaine Butler

Linda Elaine Butler was born to Dutch and Marjorie Schreuder on March 17, 1947, in Beloit, Kansas. She passed away on April 20, 2026, in Salina, Kansas.

Her early days were spent on a farm outside of Cawker City. In 1960, they moved into town, a transition that included the welcome addition of indoor plumbing.

She graduated from Cawker City High School in 1965 and from Kansas State University in 1969 with a degree in elementary education.

In 1968, she married John Shirley, and they welcomed two sons, Chad and Tom.

In 1979, she began a career in human resources at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Her work in the hotel industry took her to San Diego, Tulsa, Chicago, New Jersey, and eventually St. Louis, where she met and married the love of her life, G.R. Butler. Together, they shared a wonderful life filled with travel, good food, and good company.

In retirement, they lived in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua; Boquete, Panama; then Sun City Center, Florida. After losing G.R. in 2019, she returned home to Kansas to be near her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, as well as her husband, G.R.

She is survived by her sons, Chad Shirley of Salina and Tom Shirley of Scott City and his wife, Amy; grandchildren Brooke, Stella, and Jack; Chad’s former wife, Barb, and her son, Michael; sisters Shari (Don) and Shelley (Tom); nieces and nephews Tracie Kirby (Mike), Stacie Scanlan (Justin), Jeremy Muths (Cara), Andrew Thull (Erin), and Casey Phillips (Mychael); and G.R.’s children, Megan Cassidy (Kevin) and Brett Butler (Christine), along with their children, Victoria, Blake, Rae, Avett, and Jude.

Linda loved to sing and laugh. She loved her family, her friends, and her cats. She loved Patsy Cline, and she really loved Coca-Cola.

She was tough as hell. She fought health problems for years. Through it all, she remained joyful and optimistic, never complaining, with a smile on her face to the very end. She will be missed and loved forever.

Services to honor and celebrate Linda’s life will be announced at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be sent to: Sunflower Adult Day Services 401 W. Iron Avenue, Salina, KS 67401 https://www.sunfloweradultday.org/donations.php