Obituaries: Francis (Fred) Henry Butler (Mar. 10, 1914 - Feb. 6, 2010)

Francis (Fred) Henry Butler passed away of natural causes February 6, 2010, just 32 days short of his 96 birthday. His last residence was at the Macklyn House in Brookings. He was born in Smithfield, Rhode Island on March 10, 1914, to Fredrick Alfred Butler and Emma A Bernard.

In 1931, at the age of 17, he left home to join the Navy. He was very proud of his Navy service, serving on the battleships New York, Pennsylvania and Nevada. He always said he didn’t join the Navy to see the world; he joined to have a place to sleep and get three meals a day, this being the time of the Great Depression. In the meanwhile, he did get to see the world. He traveled to Cuba, Panama, Hawaii, Philippines and Japan.

After leaving the Navy in 1937, Fred met his future wife, a young lady, Lucille Lena Newkirk living in Long Beach. She was originally from Cupar, Saskatchewan, Canada and was spending the winter months with her family in Southern CA to avoid the harsh winter. Fred and his wife were married on June 3, 1937, in Long Beach. During their courtship they became expert dancers, winning many dance contests in places like the Aragon Ballroom and the Long Beach Pike Ballroom, to the sounds of that Big Band era of Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller.

In 1938, Fred went to work for Standard Oil of California in El Segundo. They moved to 520 West Holly and raised three children, all graduating from El Segundo High School. Kenneth Bernard in 1956, Karen Frances in 1959 and Gregory William in 1967.

Fred’s 41-year love affair with Standard Oil of California, later known as Chevron Oil, was the high- light of his life. He was a very loyal and dedicated employee and was one of the last self-made men, who rose up through the ranks without a college degree. He just managed a high school diploma with the Navy stint. Over his long career, he was instrumental in developing, along with the Engineering Dept., the "Freddie Flange" of which 843 were installed in the refinery, some as big as 24 inches. Chevron sent him and two other gentlemen around the world to study and get ideas on tanker mono-bouy off loading systems. The intent was eventually to remove the old refinery wharf. They went to Kobe, Japan, Singapore, Durban, South Africa and Libya. One of the highlights of the trip was the chance meeting of the President of Chevron, Jack Gray. Unknown to any of the group, they had no idea either were in Japan. Fred’s group went to a restaurant and ran into Jack who said to Fred, "what are you guys doing in Japan?" Fred replied "Jack you’re the president of Chevron, and if you don’t know why we’re here, I guess we’re all in trouble." When they returned Fred was put in charge at removing the old wharf and installing the new offshore unloading systems used today. BUTLER BLVD was dedicated in Fred’s honor upon his retirement for all he did for Chevron. He was very proud and humble for this honor, as these roads and boulevard dedications were usually reserved for board member and higher ups.

Fred retired in 1979 and he and his wife moved to their retirement home in Skyland Village, South Lake Tahoe, Nevada. It didn’t take long before he got involved looking out and caring for neighbors homes. In the winter you could find him clearing all the driveways of snow, whether they were home or not. Skyland Village bestowed the title of Honorary Mayor of Skyland Village for all that Fred did. Even in retirement, his knowledge of the refinery was still of great value to Chevron, and they would call upon him for information many times, even when he was in his 90's.

January 30, 2008, his wife passed away just 5 months short of their 70th wedding anniversary. His family moved Fred to Macklyn House in Brookings to be closer to family so that they could watch over him.

Preceding in death were his five brothers and one sister. Fred now leaves two sisters, Helen Simpson and Marie Steere of Rhode Island and a brother-in-law Chuck Newkirk and his wife, Ruth of San Pedro. Fred also leaves two sons, Kenneth Bernard Butler of Crescent City; Gregory William Butler and his wife, Sunny of Woodinville, Wash. and a daughter, Karen Frances Madrid of Cedaredge, Colo., along with six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

No services will be held. Arrangements are under the direction of Wier’s Mortuary Chapel of Crescent City.