Clara L. Butell, age 86, of Lawrence, Kansas, passed away on April 19 with her loving husband, children and grandchildren by her side. Clara was born and raised in Newton, Kansas, and was daughter of Kenneth and Gladys (Fancher) Carnahan.
Clara was a homemaker whose greatest joy was her family. Clara enjoyed working for many years at West Junior High in food services where she loved spending time with the children. She was a volunteer for many years at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Clara loved living her life in service to others.
Clara leaves behind her husband of 45 years, Ernest E. Butell Jr, of Lawrence, Kansas, and seven children: daughter Susan (Wellman) McNeill and her husband Kent McNeill of DeSoto; daughter Linda Wellman Fyler and husband Randy Fyler of Lawrence; son Ronald Wellman and wife Amy of Eudora; son Michael Wellman of Lawrence; daughter-in-law Diane Wellman of St. Louis, MO; son Scott Wellman and wife Pamela Wellman of New Hampshire; daughter Laura (Butell) George and husband Eugene George of Baldwin City; son Bradford Butell and wife Teresa Butell of Lawrence. Clara is predeceased by her first husband Vere Wellman, son Roger Wellman, and daughter-in-law Sandy Wellman.
Clara is the cherished grandmother and great grandmother to Emily McNeill Chappuie and husband Tyson of Olathe; Andrew Fyler of Lawrence; Molly Fyler Juhl, husband Blaine, and their children Adeline Jo and Bennett of Lawrence; Raymond Baumgart of Lawrence; Justin Wellman, wife Megan and daughter Alyssa of Oberlin; Georgette (Haskell) Yost and husband Bart Yost of Lawrence; Jason Haskell and wife Beth Haskell of Lawrence; Justin Haskell and wife Amanda Haskell of Odessa, MO; Jessica (Wellman) Zielinski and husband Mark Zielinski of St. Louis; Samuel Wellman of St. Louis; Noel Wellman of New Hampshire; Todd Wellman of New Hampshire; Casey George of Baldwin City; Brittnay George and fiancé Taylor Schuetz of Kansas City; Nathaniel Straub and his wife Bekka of Augusta; Lucas Straub of Emporia; Alexandria Straub of Augusta; Michael Straub of Emporia.
Please join us in celebrating Clara’s beautiful life. Calling hours are on Wednesday April 24 from 6pm to 8pm at Rumsey Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana Street, Lawrence. Memorial service will be held at 10am on Thursday, April 25 at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lawrence. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Clara’s honor either to Midland Care, 319 Perry Street, Lawrence, KS 66044, or Visiting Nurses Association, 200 Maine Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
