Dr. David Franklin Butler D.D.S.

Dr. David Franklin Butler, D.D.S.
"You can always tell where a beautiful soul has been, by the tears and laughter left behind"
My father never wanted to talk about death. Even after he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. This desire to not discuss the inevitable was not because he denied his diagnosis, but because he chose life, instead. It seems unimaginable, cruel even, to have to write an obituary about a human who so actively and unequivocally chose life. For someone who was so larger than life in so many ways. It feels cruel and also, impossible. Impossible to narrow this human, this life, this light into a one inch wide column for a newspaper with a word limit. For he is most worthy of all the words. Instead of simply focusing on all the things, people, places he will be leaving behind, I want to share with you all the ways he lived.
He lived!
He lived for his family; his wife, his children, his grandchildren - whom he called the "light of his life."
He lived for the family he grew up with and the family he grew into.
He lived for his friends, who were vast and varied, from childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.
He lived for his pets, the many cats and dogs he rescued and adopted and nicknamed and loved.
He lived for his staff, whom he adored and respected.
He lived for his patients, whom he cared for with such a gentle, loving, and expert hand.
He lived through the music he made.
He lived for the music he loved.
He lived through his unmatched story-telling; hilarious and engaging and sometimes, maybe even a little exaggerated.
He lived sharing his memories.
He lived doing the things he loved; collecting, reading, traveling, driving, fishing, crossword puzzling.
He lived with an intense appreciation for food and well-trained chefs. He could tell you in great detail about a meal he had in 1981.
He lived for helping - volunteering, donating, listening.
He lived with a kind, empathetic, accepting, and open heart.
He lived with appreciation and optimism and always, always, hope.
He lived. He lived. He lived. The question we are all left with is how will we continue to live when someone so extraordinary no longer exists?
A song he loved was playing a few days before he left us.
"When I'm down you always comfort me,
when I'm lonely you see about me
you are everywhere you're supposed to be.
-
You never let me down.
You never let me down."
He never, not even once, let any of us down. Not as a father, a husband, a brother, a grandfather, a friend, a musician, an oral surgeon, a Madisonian. So, in loving him irrevocably, we choose to live. We choose to live well. We choose to live like him. It will be impossible, of course - for he was simply too kind, too smart, too funny, too wise, too hopeful, too good. But we owe it to him to try.
And we will endlessly hope that we will continue to find him "everywhere he's supposed to be."
He Lived!
Dr. David Franklin Butler, D.D.S., age 68, of Madison, Indiana entered this life on September 5, 1954, in Chicago, Illinois. He was adopted as an infant through the Cradle Society in Chicago, Illinois by his loving parents, Buford F. and Daisy A. Coombs Butler. He was raised on the Butler Dairy Farm in Jefferson County where he helped his father with the daily chores. His father owned and operated Butler Dairy in downtown Madison and Dave would help his father there as well. Dave was raised in the First Christian Church in downtown Madison and was spiritual in nature. He graduated from Madison Consolidated High School in 1972 where he made many long-lasting friendships since kindergarten. He then graduated from Miami University and received his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Zoology. He returned home and thought of continuing in the dairy field and attended Purdue University for two years to study Food Science. He returned home and decided the dairy industry was not a field he wanted to continue in and made a decision to return to school. He graduated from Indiana University School of Dentistry in 1982 with honors and then served three years of residency. In his last year of residency, he met the love of his life, Mary Kay Fagan and they were united in marriage on September 1, 1984, in Indianapolis, Indiana. This happy union of nearly 39 years was blessed with a daughter, Anne and sons, Daniel and Benjamin. Dr. Butler was blessed with a talent in music, especially playing the trumpet. This led him in his music career performing in many bands throughout his life. He began his practice in Madison in 1985 and specialized in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for the next 35 years, retiring in 2020. Dr. Butler was very civic-minded, philanthropic and volunteered and gave back to his community wherever needed. He served on many boards of many organizations, but to mention a few, the Boys and Girls Club, Girls Inc., M-3, the Police Merit Board, Madison Country Club and many other professional organizations. He was instrumental in performing with the Soul Motivation, the Doctors Band since 1985, and the Madisonians. Dr. Butler had served on the Ribberfest Committee for the past 22 years. When you think of Dr. Butler, you think of music, his collection of cars, watches, guitars, his dedication to family, cooking shows, culinary skills, good bourbon, vacations and living life to the fullest. Dr. Butler had an uncanny way of maintaining his friendships from an early age throughout the rest of his life. Dr. Butler will be remembered for the legacy he has left for the betterment of our community. Dr. Butler fought a courageous battle with glioblastoma and passed away on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at 6:45 a.m, at the River Terrace Health Campus in Madison, Indiana with his loving family at his side. Please Click Here to View the Video Tribute. Please Click Here to View the Service of Remembrance Recording
A LOVING FAMILY
Dr. Butler will be missed by his loving wife of nearly 39 years, Mary Kay Fagan Butler of Madison, Indiana; his loving sons, Dr. Daniel Franklin Butler, D.D.S. and his wife, Jessica of Madison, Indiana, Benjamin David "Ben" Butler of Madison, Indiana; his loving daughter, Anne E. "Annie" Butler of Brooklyn, New York; his adoring granddaughters, Sofia Frances Butler and Audrey Marin Butler; his sister, Mary Jane Butler of Lacey, Washington; his mother in law, Lou Fagan of Bloomington, Indiana; his sisters in law and his brothers in law, Debra Fagan of Denver, Colorado, Elizabeth Funck and her husband, Bernie of Charlotte, North Carolina, Dan Fagan and his wife, Marilynn of Indianapolis, Indiana; his nephews and his nieces, Elaine Ewertz, Emily Reyes (Alfredo), Evan Couch, Michael Houlihan (Megan), Jonny Cook, Jack Funck (Jessica), Nick Funck (Julia), Patrick Fagan, Joe Fagan (Julie), and Mary Claire Fagan (Eric Smith); his cousins, Karen & Jim Burkhalter, Sally Murphy, Steve Butler, Gary Butler, Margot & Jim Payne, and Andrew & Charmaine Coombs; other relatives and countless colleagues and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Buford F. Butler, died May 25, 1999, his mother, Daisy A. Coombs Butler, died June 2, 2010, his father in law, James R. "Jim" Fagan, died November 15, 2015, his aunt and his uncle, Bula Fay Butler Keeton, died February 19, 2010 and her husband, Melvin, died August 28, 1977, and his uncle, William Butler, died January 5, 1974.
A SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE
A service of remembrance and music will be conducted Sunday, July 23, 2023, at 5:00 p.m., by his family and fellow musicians at the Madison Elks Lodge No. 524, 1251 West Main Street in downtown Madison, Indiana.
VISITATION
Friends may visit Sunday from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at the Madison Elks Lodge No. 524, 1251 West Main Street in downtown Madison, Indiana.
MEMORIAL EXPRESSIONS
Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Dr. Dave Butler Ribberfest Fund or the Boys and Girls Club or Girls Inc., or the Cradle Society or the American Cancer Society. Cards are available at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centres of Madison and Hanover or at the Madison Elks Club. Online condolences, remembrances and memorials can be left at www.morgan-nay.com Place An Online Memorial Here