Jean Smith Butler

Jean Smith Butler, 90, was born on December 13, 1925, in New Castle, New Hampshire to Mildred and Clarence Smith. Jean passed away September 11, 2016 in Glendora, California, where she lived the last 59 years of her life.

Jean spent most of her early years in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She graduated from Portsmouth High School, and received her Bachelor's degree and her Master's degree from the University of New Hampshire. Jean taught English at Bradford College, a school for young women, and was elected to the Portsmouth School Board at the age of 25.

Jean married Arthur Francis Butler on May 14, 1952 and the two of them spent the next 40 years enjoying life, travel, golf, their family and friends, and their life. Jean and Art moved to Glendora, California in 1957. They were among the earliest members of Glendora Country Club, and much of their leisure time, friendships, and activities were centered around golf and the Club.

In her early years in Glendora, Jean got her real estate license and opened her own realty company, Glendora Properties.. Jean continued her teaching career in Glendora, where she taught at Citrus College, Sutherland School, and Bidwell School. Jean was also a long-time member and president of the Glendora Board of Education.

Jean and Art traveled extensively. They visited the East Coast often to see family and friends, and also traveled to Hawaii, Mexico, Europe, Japan, China, and many other places, usually playing golf and always making friends in their travels.

Jean graduated from Western State College of Law in 1981, passed the Bar Exam, and began a law practice. She continued to practice law until she was 80 years old, concentrating on educational law and elder law.

Jean lost her beloved Arthur in 1992 after 40 years of marriage. Theirs was truly a love story, and they both preferred being with the other than being anywhere else.

In 1995, Jean was fortunate to find another companion in life when she married Howard McGee. Until Howard's death in 2006, Jean and Howard spent their years together cruising, traveling the country and the world, and spending time with friends and family.

Jean was a voracious reader, writer, and story-teller. She loved crossword puzzles, played cards with the girls, loved a good cocktail, and was a big sports fan. Even in her last days, she was rooting for the Dodgers, watching the golf matches, and so happy that the football season had begun. She loved to travel, and most of all she loved her precious dogs, Dudley and Maude, and her family.

Jean is survived by her four children, Arthur F. Butler Jr. (Gina), Shawn Butler Nodal (Henry), Nancy Butler Wolf (Mimi), and Elizabeth Butler Schatz (Martin), and her six grandchildren, Erin Wolf Torres (Nick), Ryan Henry Nodal, Alexis Wolf Diaz (Nick), Kevin Arthur Nodal, Jordan Jean Nodal, and Gabriella Sofia Butler.

A celebration of Jean's life will be held at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Church, 724 E Bonita Ave, San Dimas, CA, at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 20th. The celebration will continue at a cocktail gathering the same day at Glendora Country Club, 2400 Country Club Dr, Glendora, CA , from 5 - 7 p.m. The burial will be private.


Say not in grief that she is no more
but say in thankfulness that she was
A death is not the extinguishing of a light,
but the putting out of the lamp
because the dawn has come.
Rabindranath Tagore

Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Covina Hills, California.

A scholarship has been set up in memory of Jean for a graduating senior at Glendora High School who plans to study in the field of English in college. If you would like to contribute to the GHS Jean Butler Scholarship, please send donations to P.O. Box 2856, Jackson, Wyoming, 83001, Attention Dawn. Thank you.