Willie Butler Jr.

Willie Butler, Jr. was born August 14, 1948 in Enterprise, AL to Tinnie Lee Scott and Willie Frank Butler. He passed away the weekend of July 4, 2015 at his home in Portland, OR.

Willie graduated from E. E. Smith High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina and earned a scholarship to Duke University. He attended Duke until he enlisted in the United States Army. He was a Vietnam Era Veteran who was stationed at the United States Embassy in Tokyo, Japan during the war.

Following his military service, Willie moved to Portland, OR. He loved Portland and was a regular fixture at numerous coffee shops in town. He loved to read and always had a book or newspaper with him. He loved to discuss current events, history, and sports.

Willie was also a music lover and during the 1980's was a regular at the 9th St. Exit where he enjoyed the Portland music scene. His love of music carried over into dancing. He was a fixture at Lucky's Pub where he drew so much attention with his dance moves that the Willamette Weekly did a feature article on him, naming him Portland's Best Dancer in July, 2010. He was always a gentleman with never a harsh word for anyone. He was beloved by patrons young and old.

He was involved in the community and volunteered for a local crisis line as well as at St. Francis Church.

Willie enjoyed his family and spent much of his time with them.

Willie is survived by his mother Tinnie Lee Edwards of Enterprise, AL, his seven younger siblings Ivory Edwards, Denise Jackson, Ann McKenzie, Steve Edwards, Benjamin Edwards, Yvonne Amos, and Kelvin Edwards. He leaves behind two daughters, Aurora Lynch and Elaina Hanks, as well as seven grandchildren, Jarrett Lynch, Capreece "Nina" Kelsaw, Mackenzie Lynch, Bryana Hanks, Cameron Lynch, Alexis Lynch, and Dameeko Nobles. He also leaves numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, and friends too numerous to count.