Daddy did his best to teach me many life lessons – some took, some didn’t, and I often proved to be a slow learner. In fact, the last words he said to me were, “Hey, Knothead.”

He was a perfectionist and had the best work ethic of anyone I know. Either do it right or not at all. We all learned this lesson working for Daddy in tobacco. Nothing encouraged me to get a college degree more than summers spent in the Durden farm shades and barns.

He loved to laugh, and I inherited that. He loved practical jokes and would laugh until he cried if he got away with playing a good one on somebody.

Daddy was a man of his word and instilled truth and honesty in me.

He practiced the Golden Rule as far as possible and did many kind deeds unknown to everyone but the people affected.

He was big on conserving energy. He hated see us standing in front of an open refrigerator and couldn’t stand having lights left on throughout the house. I’ll never forget when we got our first air-conditioned car. Daddy insisted on keeping the windows up so the cold air wouldn’t escape – even while he was smoking his cigars. We rolled along looking like a moving smoke bomb, with us kids crying about headaches and the smoke in our eyes.

He couldn’t have been more proud of his heritage, and I feel the same. Once, when I was a young adult, I was boohooing to him about something I needed to set straight with someone, and I didn’t want to do it. He said, “Girl, you’re a Butler, and you can do it.” He was right.

The Sabbath Day was holy at our house. That was the one day he wouldn’t let us go fishing. It was also a day for the family, and we spent many Sunday afternoons after church visiting our grandparents and cousins in Georgia.

Daddy taught me love of family and friends. I can remember playing “Roll at the Bat” after a long day’s work for him when I’m sure he would have preferred being in his Lazy Boy with one us rubbing his Bryl-Creemed head or chasing Mama around trying to get a kiss.

He was a loving husband and father, a Godly man, a committed friend, a courageous soldier, a diligent worker, and an example to be emulated.

I’m proud to be able call him my daddy.