Clara Marie Butt, 91, of South Whitley, died peacefully at 5:35 p.m. Thursday, June 3, 2021, at Miller's Merry Manor of Warsaw, where she was a resident for the past three weeks.

She was born August 8, 1929, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the only child of William Loren Calhoun and Marie (Matson) Calhoun. Growing up in South Whitley, she graduated from South Whitley High School in 1947. She continued her education at Manchester College, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1951. She went on to earn a Master in Education from Ball State University in 1963.

On December 21, 1952, she married Doyne DeVon Butt. They became life-long residents of South Whitley. Doyne died on March 20, 2010.

A career-long teacher, she began at Horace Mann Elementary in Huntington, where she taught for two years. She then moved to South Whitley Elementary, where she taught for 37 years.

A member of the United Methodist Church of South Whitley, she was active in the Helping Hands Circle. A charter member of the Theta Tau Chapter of Delta Theta Tau, she remained active throughout her life. She belonged to the Indiana Retired Teachers Association, the Whitley County Retired Teachers Association, and a past board member of the Cleveland Twp., South Whitley Library. In the summer months, she volunteered at Merry Lea Environmental Center, Wolf Lake, and was a volunteer tutor for the Whitley County Literacy Council.

Traveling with her husband, they ventured throughout the U.S, with their favorite destinations being Hawaii and Alaska. In their retirement years, they wintered in Naples, FL, for 15 years.  She enjoyed watching the birds and was an avid card player enjoying regular Bridge and Euchre games with her South Whitley friends.

Surviving are her sons, Michael Butt of Indianapolis, Stephen (Tracy) Butt of Winona Lake, and a granddaughter, Carli Butt of Winona Lake.

The funeral service is 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Smith & Sons Miller Chapel, South Whitley. Burial is at the South Whitley Cemetery. Visitation is 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials are to the South Whitley Library or the United Methodist Church of South Whitley.