Obituary

Karen Ruth (Thompson) Butler-Hawkins passed from this life into the arms of the Lord on March 15, 2012 after fighting a courageous battle against cancer. She was born on April 4, 1941 to Eldon C. and Rosalie Thompson. She was raised in Muskogee, Oklahoma and graduated from Muskogee High Class of 59. She attended Hillcrest School of Nursing and graduated August 1962. She began her nursing career at Hillcrest. On December 21, 1963 she married Charles L. Butler. She and Charlie founded Butler’s Chapel of the Roses in 1966. She continued to work at Hillcrest through the 60s and 70s where she rose to become Head Nurse of the Recovery Room. In 1976 she and Charlie started Goodtime Charlie’s Conglomeration, a unique restaurant in Tulsa. By 1980 Karen and Charlie decided to move their family to Rogers, Arkansas. While in Arkansas Karen used her nursing skills to obtain work in several different settings. She was a claims supervisor for a health insurance company and an Occupational Health Nurse at the Little Debbie factory in Gentry, Arkansas. Her children loved this job the most because there was always Little Debbies at the house. In 1988, she and Charlie made their way back to Tulsa where she worked in Occupational Health at McDonnell-Douglas, Home Health for Hillcrest and finally as a wound care management nurse at Oklahoma State University Med Center. After a near 50 year career providing care and love to her patients she retired in April 2011. Mom was preceded in death by her parents and husband Charlie. Karen again found joy when she remarried James E. Hawkins of Wilburton on February 14, 2008. During the last five years of her life she divided her time between Tulsa and Wilburton building her dream home on a peaceful, secluded piece of land in the foothills of the Sanbois Mountains. She is survived by her husband James, her children and spouses Chera Hereford (Jim), Charles L. Butler III (Corie), Chad Butler (Paula), Charles R. Butler (Veronica) Sharon Segerblom (Tick), Steve Moon (Rachel) and seventeen grandchildren. She also leaves behind five brothers: Dr. Patrick Thompson, Michael J. Thompson, Dr. Eldon C. “Tommy” Thompson, Daniel M. Thompson, Marty Thompson and a great host of nieces, nephews and friends. She loved life, gardening, cooking and being surrounded by family. Whenever we feel the wind in our hair or the warmth of the sun on our faces, we will feel her presence and know we are loved. Condolences may be sent through the guestbook on this page.