Esther Butler

Esther Butler

A gentle lady with a wicked sense of humor. She could farm with the best, it was in her DNA. Raised on a family farm in Hurffville, she had the tools to be the best partner to Milton, her late husband. She didn’t mind getting her fingers dirty. Esther could be found pulling sprouts for sweet potatoes and later packing tomatoes and peaches. She left the field a half hour before anyone else, not to rest but to prepare lunch and dinner for the crew. After the harvest was complete and the canning finished she would take some time to enjoy a mystery novel or track down some Heisey glassware in Lancaster County.rn In addition to farming she was a world class mom and homemaker. Her children were lucky to have a mom who typed school reports and term papers and also sewed and tailored their clothing. rn Esther met Milton at the Oasis Ballroom where he swept her off her feet. They married within six months. Their union was blessed with a daughter, Carol and son, Wayne; two grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Also surviving Esther is a brother, Ralph Johnson and a sister, Lois Craig.rn Come celebrate 87 ladylike years Sunday from 5 to 7PM and Monday from 9AM at Daley Life Celebration Studio, Swedesboro where the service will be at 10AM. Burial Lake Park Cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers to the Alzheimer’s Assoc., 3 Eves Drive, Suite 310, Marlton NJ 08053-3431.

5 Comments

  1. Barbara Anderson Doan says:

    I remember many visits to the farm, which was always an adventure for a city girl. The pets and animals as well as the fantastic meals ‘Aunt Esther’ seemed to produce on short notice. Her smiles lit up any room she entered and was always kind and understanding. She will truly be missed and remembered fondly.

  2. Patty says:

    Loved the fact I had such alarge extended family and got to work with them daily all summer while growing up,Aunt Esther was always sweet,calm and never got mad,for all the years I knew her…. a great lady

  3. Janet Anderson Robinson says:

    Dear Carol and Wayne,Please accept my condolences in the loss of your mother. She was a very special lady to me. I was in my teens, I guess, before I realized that my very special Aunt Esther, whom I always looked forward to seeing, was not a blood relative, but the best friend of my mother. I remember fondly visiting the farm and the fun we had there and your mother’s laugh and the smell of Jergen’s lotion. I always associate that with her. I hope you have many happy memories to help you through this time. n Your “cousin”, Janet Anderson Robinson

  4. Virginia Harre says:

    Carol and Wayne…I loved your parents, they were wonderful people…and how they loved you children !! Do you recall the very first Sunday School classs that you attended? I was the student teacher in the Bethesda Methodist Sunday School. Mrs. Ashcraft and my mother Mrs. Harre were the teachers. You kids were my favorites. I always held one of you during story time.rnThe age range was 3 to 5 yr. olds in this group. Just after Sunday School your mother and I would talk about your activities during the week and occasionally I would go to see you at your home. When I went away to nurse’s training you wanted me to stay and baby sit you. I always asked about you and glad you are doing well. I my dad passed away in 2004 and mother in 2006. They were both 96. rnCarol and Wayne, you had wonderful loving parents like my brother and I had. We all were very fortunate.rnI am sending my condolences and love to you both.rnLove, Virginia.