Elsie Lee Butler, 78, a former Halfway resident, died June 2, 2008, at her home in Yuma, Ariz.
Elsie was born on July 19, 1929, at Venita, Okla., to Vernie and Iva Bloyed. In her youth, the family moved to Gustine, Calif., where she was raised and educated. Elsie graduated from Gustine High School. Just out of high school she married Bob Scoggin, and they had three children: Linda, Donald and Darrell. They later divorced.
In September of 1971, Walt Butler and Elsie were married in Carson City, Nev. The couple raised a blended family of seven children: Walter LeRoy Butler III, Christine, Cindy, Nannette, Linda, Donald and Darrell.
Elsie worked as a nurse in Modesto, Calif., until 1976 when she and Walt moved to Halfway. Elsie loved to camp during the Posse Trail Ride, crochet, doll collecting, quilting and cooking.
Elsie volunteered with the Halfway/Oxbow Ambulance helping whenever she could, and she also helped with the Hells Canyon Junior Rodeo and Panhandle Labor Day Rodeo. She was very active in the Halfway V.F.W. Auxiliary.
Walt and Elsie enjoyed spending winters in Yuma, and in October of 2002 they became permanent residents of that city.
Survivors include her children: Linda Naegar of Modesto, Calif., Donald Scoggin of Ceres, Calif., and Darrell Scoggin of Delhi, Calif.; stepchildren Walt Butler Jr. and his wife, Pat, of Ceres, Chris and her husband, Glen Naylor, of Yarington, Nev., Cyndi and her husband, Ed Blomdahl, of Modesto, and Nanette and Lennie Anderson of Tuolumne, Calif.; sisters, Hazel and her husband, Ben Stiles, of Modesto, Mary Ruth and her husband, Vernon Lewis, of Lewisville, Texas, Shirley and her husband, Joe Alamo, of Gustine, and Fay and her husband, Gail Bergman, of Halfway; brothers, Tommy Bloyed of Gustine and Edward Rozeira of Ceres; 23 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Walt, who died in 2005; and a great-grandson, Justin.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Halfway/Oxbow Ambulance Fund or the Halfway V.F.W. Auxiliary through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543, Halfway, OR 97834.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, June 18, 2008
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
