VIRGINIA LEE(MCMILLAN)BUTCHER, NORTON

Virginia Lee Norton 93, of Springfield, Missouri passed away peacefully Thursday, May 26, 2022 in the home she shared with her son, Bruce, who has faithfully and lovingly cared for her the past 4 years.

She was born May 2, 1929 at the family home in Red Top, Missouri, the first child of four children born to the late Harley ”Lois” and Ida Belle(Anderson) McMillan.

She grew up in the “Great Depression Years” where there was little money for anything but the bare necessities, which played a big part in her “hard-work”, “no frills” work ethic. She loved church and school activities and was always a high achiever in her career as a bookkeeper for many companies throughout her career in Springfield, Missouri, Minnesota, California, and Washington State.

She graduated from Pleasant Hope High School in 1946 and attended SMU(now MSU) until 1948, when she married J.E. Butcher. Of this union, 2 children were born, son, Bruce Harley Butcher and daughter, Cheryl Elaine Butcher.

She married again in 1979 to Robert(Bob)Norton.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Norton in 1988, her daughter, Cheryl in 1997, her sister, Loretta Williams in 2021 and many other extended family members.

Survivors include her Son, Bruce Butcher of the home; Grandson, John Butcher (Jackie) of Chicago, Granddaughter, Kaitlin Corcoran (Chris) of Chicago; 2 great-grandchildren, Ella and Colin Corcoran; her sister, Bonnie Wilkins of Springfield; her brother, J.D. McMillan (Linda) of Springfield, along with several nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews and cousins.

She lived a full independent life for many years and worked as a volunteer at Cox Hospital and Price Cutter grocery store up into her eighties. She loved going to church and stayed active as long as her health allowed. She was a member of Canaan Missionary Baptist Church in Springfield, MO for many years.  Her favorite pastime has been going to the thrift stores and dollar stores with her sister Bonnie on a weekly basis, followed by a burger and a shake at Braums; working puzzles, playing with her two puppy dogs, Harley and Hannah, and baking muffins. Bruce has been a loving and faithful son helping care for her the past four years. Her brother, J.D. asked her to write her story.  We found the following words she penned about ten years ago: “I look back and am amazed at the things that have been invented…and all the things that I’ve been privileged to do in my life time…l traveled to many wonderful places, worked many, many places because we had to move so often…..my last job at Price Cutter which was fun because I got to meet so many wonderful people. I volunteered at Cox Hospital and also taught Sunday School classes.  I’ve had lots of hardships in my life but God helped me through all of it…without Him I wouldn’t have been able to go through the heartaches. And of course, I can’t forget my wonderful family —my son, Bruce, my sisters and my brother and their families….thanks to all of you. Love, Aunt Gin. “

The family wants to especially thank her son, Bruce for his faithful, loving care these past four years, and also the caring staff of Intrepid Hospice care the past couple of weeks.

Service: Visitation for Virginia will be at Greenlawn Funeral Home East in Springfield, Missouri on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 1:00 PM with funeral service following at 2:00 PM with Minister, Rodney McCann officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Olive, Missouri.