Hobert "Butch" Marler

Memorial services with military honors for Hobert “Butch” Marler, 80, of Etoile will be held Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Shirley Creek Baptist Church. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Carroway Funeral Home.

Butch was born September 15, 1942 in Cassville, Missouri to John Thomas Marler and Addie (Payne) Marler, and died Monday, March 27, 2023 in Center. He graduated high school in Billings, Missouri and attended College of the Redwoods in Eureka, California.

After graduating high school, he moved to northern California and went to work at Pacific Lumber Co. in the plywood division. He married the love of his life, Magda, June 13, 1965.

In November of ‘66 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and spent one year in Vietnam. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal, with V Device for heroism.

In 1975 Butch moved his family to Texas where he took a job as a plywood inspector. He eventually went to a company named Neste Resins Corporation as an East Texas Regional Sales Manager from August 1984 to April 30, 1999, when he retired.

Butch loved sports. He started playing fast pitch softball in Billings, Missouri where he led his team to championship. He was also catcher in his high school hard ball team. He played basketball for the plywood division of the Pacific Lumber Co. He also helped coach little league. He was the pitcher for a local team of the town he lived in. He won many trophies and led his teams to championships.

He also loved to fish. His largest bass was a 12 pounder, which is hanging on the wall in his home, but he really loved to catfish.

Both Butch and his wife loved camping in their RV. After Butch retired, he and his wife went to Beaver Lake in Arkansas, and were park attendants for the Army Corp of Engineers for 10 years.

Above all that, Butch loved his family. He and his wife spent 58 wonderful years together. His wife and children Kenny and Kim, son-in-law, Kelly, and his grandchildren were his world. He also loved the many Boston Terriers that they adopted throughout the years.

He was a member of Shirley Creek Baptist Church. He loved his Lord, and his church family.

Butch had seven siblings. All preceded him in death except his youngest sister, Geneva Matthews from Cassville, Missouri. He had three grandchildren, Kevin Marler and wife Jessica, Kyle Rivenbark, and Brayden Bowman, and one great-grandchild, Kai Marler. He had several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Boston Terrier Rescue of Greater Houston. 216 Harbor Bend Lane, Dickinson, Texas 77539.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.