Jacqueline Butler

Funeral services for Jacqueline Butler will be held on December 1st, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Harness Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Paul Gilbert officiating. Memorial donations in Jacqueline's name may be made to the St. Francis Animal Shelter, 109 Flatiron Drive, Buffalo Wyoming 82834, or the Buffalo Senior Center, 671 West Fetterman, Buffalo Wyoming 82834. On-line condolences may be made at www.harnessfuneralhome.com.
Jackie Butler was born in San Francisco in 1942 and grew up all over Northern California, attending several schools before graduating from Petaluma High School in 1960. She went on to Santa Rosa Junior College, where she spent two years studying bookkeeping, business, math, and art-skills that would follow her through the rest of her incredibly full life.
Jackie married the love of her life, Bob Butler, on June 8, 1963, in Santa Rosa, California. In 1969, they made the big move to Buffalo, Wyoming, where their story truly took root. Together, they owned and operated the Buffalo Bar for several years before settling on a ranch on Powder River. Ranch life suited her, and she threw herself into every part of it-from stacking countless thousands of hay bales to savoring the simple joy of freshly cut alfalfa. Jackie wasn't someone who stood back and watched; she was side-by-side in the work.
Over the years, she worked for several engineering firms as a surveyor, CAD drafter, and eventually head draftsman. She even launched two companies of her own. When she wasn't at an engineering desk or running the ranch, she was deep into the equestrian world. Show jumping, cross-country, dressage-Jackie did it all. She brought home multiple gold, silver, and bronze medals in the Cowboy State Games and even competed in the National Olympic Equestrian Trials in the 1980s.
Bob and Jackie retired and returned to Buffalo in 2005, and Jackie made the most of every year that followed. She continued riding and training horses until her hip forced her to slow down. She adored her dogs and trained them for various events, winning many ribbons. She and her close friend, Susan Sorensen, spent many happy miles walking with their dogs along the foothills.
Jackie also found a whole new passion: building and showing cars. She was especially proud of her 1969 Camaro-the River Rat-and could talk for hours about the fine points of show car building. The cars she helped create won many first-place trophies across the region.
She loved camping, fishing, and riding in the Bighorn Mountains with her horses, dogs, and family. She also played guitar and sang bluegrass and country music with local groups in Buffalo and Sheridan, especially enjoying performing for the Buffalo Senior Center and the Agape facility.
Jackie never met a stranger who wasn't a friend. She led with kindness, humor, and an easy openness that made people feel instantly welcome. She spent her entire life caring more about others' well-being than her own.
Jackie was exceptional-one-of-a-kind in every way. She was loved deeply, and she will be missed by all who knew her.
Jackie is survived by her husband, Bob Butler of Buffalo, Wyoming; her son, Dustin Butler of Las Vegas, Nevada; her daughter, Cindy Woods of Buffalo, Wyoming; her brother, David Lafollette of Ukiah, California; and her sister, Anita Lafollette of Santa Rosa, California.