Charles L. ‘Butch’ Ashley

A Celebration of Life visitation for Charles L. ‘Butch’ Ashley, 61, Lawrence, will be at held from 4 to 6 pm Thursday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Butch passed away Saturday, June 23, 2018, after a brief and valiant battle with cancer.

He was born August 5, 1956, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Charles H. and Lorena M. (Girard) Ashley. He graduated from Stafford (Kan.) High School, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Kansas, and later earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Wichita State University. Butch worked at Stormont Vail Health in Topeka from 2003 until his death, finishing his career as the Director of Surgery Business Operations. He had worked at Hillcrest Bowl in Lawrence from 1975-78 and 1980-83, as the staff accountant at Pratt Regional Medical Center from 1983-88, as the Chief Financial Officer at Del Norte (Colo.) Hospital from 1988-92, and as the Vice President for Clinics and Professional Development at Pratt Regional Medical Center from 1992-2003. Butch was a family man, and enjoyed spending time with his family, bowling, and watching KU Jayhawk basketball and KC Royals baseball.

He married Karen L. Cramer on June 3, 1978, in Lawrence, and together they enjoyed 40 years of marriage. She survives of the home. Other survivors include four children: Daniel Ashley of Eudora and significant other Megan Walker of Lawrence, Sarah (Ashley) Preston and husband Brian of Lenexa, Andrew Ashley and wife Laura of Lawrence, and Katie Ashley of Lawrence; three siblings: Rick Ashley, Karen M. Ashley, and Ginger Callison and husband Tim, all of Wichita; and eight grandchildren: Eily, Maddie, Mitchell, Clark, Boston, Charlotte, Anna, and Jack. He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Anna Ashley, and his sister Debbie Lowe.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Stormont Vail Foundation, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044. Online condolences may be made at rumsey-yost.com