Cyril W. Butts Sr.

1916 - 2011

GALESBURG - Cyril William Butts Sr., 94, Knoxville, formerly of Galesburg, died at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 14, 2011, at the Knox County Nursing Home, Knoxville.
He was born Oct. 22, 1916, in Galesburg, the son of Daniel John and Anna Elizabeth Coomes Butts. His mother died when he was 3 years old. His father then married Eleanor Dunne, who raised him. Cyril married Anna Rose Weech at Corpus Christi Catholic Church on Aug. 7, 1948. She preceded him in death Dec. 3, 1986.
He is survived by a son, Cyril William Butts Jr. of Galesburg; two daughters, Elizabeth Ann Keller of Plymouth, Mass., and Bridget Kathleen Badesch of Chicago; and seven grandchildren, Joshua Keller, Moira Keller Penniman, Sarah Badesch Wilson, David Badesch, Cyril William Butts III, Anna Kathleen Rose Butts Whitmer and Brian Daniel Butts. He also is survived by four great-grandchildren, Cecelia Keller, Levi Keller, Sydney Wilson and Riley Wilson; and two stepgrandchildren, Kristine Korenburg and Katherine Loveland. He was preceded in death by a son, Robert Joseph Butts M.D.; brothers Thomas Butts, Daniel J. Butts, Charles W. Butts, James Arthur Thomas and Joseph Vincent Butts; and his sisters, Sister Theresa Rose (Rosemary) Butts S-P and Anna Lee Hicks.
Cyril attended and graduated valedictorian from Corpus Christi Lyceum in 1935. He joined the U.S. Army in August 1941. He served his country for four years in Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. He was on his way to Okinawa to participate in the invasion of Japan when the nuclear bombs were dropped on that country. He operated an Army radio station in Alaska. He was discharged in August 1945. In addition, he served as chairman of the Knox County Board Veterans Committee. Cyril was a lifelong member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church and 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Council 556.
Cyril worked on the CB&Q (Burlington Route) and Burlington Northern for 38 years as a conductor and brakeman on passenger and freight trains. He worked at The Register-Mail, Galesburg, for many years. He was also president of Burlington Northern Veterans Association and secretary of United Transportation Union and a member for 65 years.
As a 16-year member of the Knox County Board, he led the fight to restore recognition for the Knox County Nursing Home Employees Union after the County Board had voted to terminate it. He served as chairman of the Knox County Board Courthouse Committee and was a member of the Illinois Association of County Officials. He also served as chairman of the Knox County Courthouse Centennial Cornerstone Committee. He was a precinct committeemen and active member of the Knox County Democratic Central Committee from the late 1940s to his retirement from the Knox County Board in 1992.
Cyril was co-chairman with his wife Anna Rose of Corpus Christi Church Centennial Cornerstone Committee. He also helped construct the new Knights of Columbus Hall. He was one of the founders of Railroad Days and was a member of the Galesburg Railroad Museum. Cyril played the harmonica and played in a harmonica trio with his father and brother on the radio and at the Orpheum Theatre in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, with the Rev. William Miller I.C. officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery, with military rites by the Ralph M. Noble American Legion Post 285 Honor Guard. The rosary will be prayed at 5 p.m. Sunday at Watson Funeral Home, with visitation to follow 5:30 to 8 p.m. The Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Honor Guard will be present during the visitation and will have a chalice presentation at 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Friends of Knox County Nursing Home or Corpus Christi Catholic Church. Visit www.watsonfh.net to share condolences.