EVERETT BUTTS, 1924-2023

Everett Butts passed away on August 29 in Auburn, his adopted hometown. He was just a few months shy of his 100th birthday.

Everett was a lifelong Californian with family roots in the Bay Area and San Joaquin Valley. He studied at the University of California, Berkeley, and California State University, Sacramento, where he earned a degree in anthropology. After serving in the army during World War II, Everett worked with relatives in orchards near Healdsburg and then pursued a career as a purchasing agent before founding Wapumne Native California Plant Nursery.

Despite the loss of his son, Jonathan, in 1995 and his wife, Marilyn, in 2000, Everett thoroughly enjoyed the final decades of his lifes. He had many dear friends at the Sierra Foothills Unitarian Universalist Church and others in the larger Auburn area who shared his interests in plants native to California (including Everett’s Choice, a California fuschia named for him), the history of California, biographies of historical greats like Lincoln and Darwin, the environment, scientific literature, music, and singing. He was always happy to offer his renditions of Old Man River and Shenandoah. During the last few years of his life Everett shared his days with wonderful caregivers with whom he formed loving and rewarding relationships. And of course members of the Butts family were important to him: Michael Butts of North Highlands; Bruce Loker of San Jose; Diane Eiseman of Pleasant Hill; Jan Butts of Menlo Park; and Arthur, Sue, and Gary Butts of Idaho. Everett also had great affection for his nephews and niece from Marilyn’s side of the family: Brad Nystrom, Gayle Litzius, and David Nystrom.

Like the rest of us, Everett had a few regrets. He thought he might have done this or that a little better. But those who knew him saw that he was a truly good man who was satisfied with how he had lived. Had he had the opportunity in his last moments to sum up his thoughts about his life, he might well have smiled approvingly and said (as he often did): So be it!