Jerry Dock "Sofer" Butler

Jerry "Sofer" Dock Butler

January 21, 1939 – August 29, 2025

Jerry Butler passed away peacefully at home on Friday, August 29, 2025, attended by his son Alan Butler, his daughter-in-law Amber Butler, his grandson Nathan Butler (who he lovingly and proudly called "that boy"), and the dog who stole his heart after he insisted for decades that he would never have another dog, Bull. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Gayle & Alan Canary of Wedowee, Alabama, his nephew and his partner, Russell "Rusty" Odom & Kristie Capps and their children of Winston, Georgia, his former brother-in-law, Steve Odom of Winston, Georgia, and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Alvin "Rex" & Lynn Moss of Greenville, Tennessee, and numerous other nieces and nephews. Additionally, he is survived by his "North Carolina family," Elizabeth "Betty" & Haskel Roberson, Mary & Ronald Ledford, Trent Ledford, and Hope Ledford.

Jerry was preceded in death by his beloved wife of almost 61 years, Jean Butler. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Larkin Walter "L.W." "Doc" Butler and Ruth Butler, brother Lewis "Oscar" Butler, brother Y.C. "Nuttsy" Butler, brother Herman "Fuzzy" Butler, sister Sue Towler, and sister Margaret "Debo" Rakes.

Jerry started his life as a farmer. He stopped attending school before he finished the seventh grade so that he could help provide for his family. As a young man, he enlisted in the Army. Private First Class Butler drove a "deuce and a half" ton dump truck and built bridges. As soon as he returned home, he married Jean. They settled into a home in the Whittier Mill Village next to the Whittier Mill, where he worked as the maintenance man. He later built airplane parts at Hitco. For the last 38 years of his career, he worked on electric motors at Bearden-Thompson. After working at Bearden-Thompson for about a decade, he was fortunate enough to buy a portion of the company and become a co-owner. Jerry was an incredibly smart man who could repair anything, and he invented a variable-speed transmission that he wanted to patent.

Retirement brought Jerry more time to sit on the front porch "solving all the world's problems," and more time to take care of his yard - something he took great pride in. He was happiest when he was mowing grass or weed-eating. Jerry insisted that nobody could ever take care of his yard the right way other than him. When his grandson Nathan was mature enough, Jerry taught Nathan how to take care of his yard Grandpa's way, and Jerry bestowed upon Nathan the great honor of helping Jerry with his yard work. Jerry took his role as Grandpa very seriously. He poured his heart into his grandson, patiently teaching Nathan how to do things and spending as much time as possible with Nathan. He often told people how much he loved "that boy" and how proud of "that boy" he was because of the challenges "that boy" had overcome.

We will always remember Jerry as the man who loved God and loved his church, Chapel Hill Road Baptist Church, where he played guitar until his health would no longer allow it. He was a lifelong musician who played guitar with the bluegrass gospel group Lost 'n' Found. He was a quiet man who was content to stay in his den all day by himself, but who enjoyed it when we would join him to sit in silence like he did with his own father. He enjoyed watching racing, wrestling, and football - especially the Georgia Bulldogs - and he would frequently venture into the other room to tell Alan all about something that had just happened during the race or the game that Alan was also watching. Jerry beamed with pride when he told people "that's my son, Alan." Even when dementia stole his ability to remember his own name at times during the last few months of his life, he remembered his son's name. He also loved to jokingly call Amber his "daughter-outlaw," because he loved playing around with words. Most of all, he loved Jean with every fiber of his being and he longed to be with her again. Jerry's heart left this world with Jean when she passed away, but Nathan was able to grab Jerry's heart and bring it back for one final year so that Jerry could pour even more of his heart into his time with Nathan. Jerry loved and cherished his family more than words could ever describe.

The family will receive friends at Hightower's Memorial Chapel on Friday, September 5, 2025, from 12:30pm until 2:30pm. The funeral service will take place at Hightower's Memorial Chapel on Friday, September 5, 2025, at 2:30pm. Interment will follow at Mozley Memorial Gardens, where military honors and Masonic rites will be rendered.

Services will be conducted by Reverend James Pitts. Pallbearers will be Nathan Butler, Steve Odom, Rusty Odom, Don Mason, Courtney Lunsford, and Jason Singleton. Honorary pallbearers will be Haskel Roberson and Ronald Ledford.

Please dress comfortably in casual attire. Jerry didn't want anyone to dress up at his funeral.

In lieu of flowers, Jerry would love it if you made donations to Chapel Hill Road Baptist Church, 4391 Chapel Hill Road, Douglasville, GA 30135.

Chapel Hill Road Baptist Church will provide a meal after the burial for everyone who is at the service. The family would love to have you join them.

You may share your thoughts and condolences online at www.hightowersmemorial.com.

Hightower's Memorial Chapel of Douglasville has charge of the arrangements.