Fred Albert Butler, Jr. started his earthly journey on January 23, 1928 and completed his journey on August 31, 2017. Freddy was born to Fred, Sr. and Josie Alma Carey in Matthews, MO and was the eldest of six boys. He was a loving father, step-father, grandfather, great grandfather, and great-great grandfather. Many who knew Fred referred to him as “the most interesting man in the world”. He had many adventures and his family and friends enjoyed hearing his stories. Fred never really met a stranger and was always willing to help when someone was in need.
Fred’s work ethic was instilled at an early age through hard work on the family farm. His father purchased a new tractor and when he showed it to Fred, said to him, “Son, meet your new toy! It has lights so you can work after dark.” Fred said, it only took him a few days, “to get the hang of it.” Fred was 9 years old when he received “his” tractor.
A few years later, Fred, Sr., took him to town after school to introduce him to his boss for his first paying job. During the course of his life, Fred owned/ran a gas station (he was 19), three taverns, a trucking company, two County Cabs, and a janitorial service besides working for International Shoe, S. H. Gale, the U.S. Postal Service, and Shriner’s Hospitals in St. Louis.
Fred served in the U.S. Air Force from January 1951 to October 1953. While serving in the Air Force, Fred studied photo lithography and engineering for map reproduction and earned the National Defense Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. He spent some of his military career as a basic training Drill Instructor. While stationed in Waco, TX, he was befriended by a General and his military career flourished. He was part of the military force that established marital law after the 1953 tornado in Waco and spent ten days in an opposing cold war country on a top-secret mission, with a cyanide capsule in his pocket, just in case he was captured. He threw numerous parties for the General and met and had dinner with President Truman. Toward the end of his time in the military, Fred achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant and was headed to Officer Candidate School. Before this could happen, there was a family crisis and he was honorably discharged so he could return home. While working at International Shoe, Fred traveled to New York many times. He used to entertain clients and in this capacity had dinner with Debbie Reynolds and her second husband, Harry Karl, several times. He also knew Phyllis Diller and frequently went to parties in her Webster Groves home. Fred was friends with many police officers in the St. Louis area, as well as, many influential underworld elements with political ties. A police officer once told him that the FBI said he was a made-mafia member. Fred collected many things, but his favorite were eagles and whiskey decanters. He was always showing off the latest eagle or whiskey decanter to anyone who would look.
Fred’s work ethic was instilled at an early age through hard work on the family farm. His father purchased a new tractor and when he showed it to Fred, said to him, “Son, meet your new toy! It has lights so you can work after dark.” Fred said, it only took him a few days, “to get the hang of it.” Fred was 9 years old when he received “his” tractor.
A few years later, Fred, Sr., took him to town after school to introduce him to his boss for his first paying job. During the course of his life, Fred owned/ran a gas station (he was 19), three taverns, a trucking company, two County Cabs, and a janitorial service besides working for International Shoe, S. H. Gale, the U.S. Postal Service, and Shriner’s Hospitals in St. Louis.
Fred served in the U.S. Air Force from January 1951 to October 1953. While serving in the Air Force, Fred studied photo lithography and engineering for map reproduction and earned the National Defense Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. He spent some of his military career as a basic training Drill Instructor. While stationed in Waco, TX, he was befriended by a General and his military career flourished. He was part of the military force that established marital law after the 1953 tornado in Waco and spent ten days in an opposing cold war country on a top-secret mission, with a cyanide capsule in his pocket, just in case he was captured. He threw numerous parties for the General and met and had dinner with President Truman. Toward the end of his time in the military, Fred achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant and was headed to Officer Candidate School. Before this could happen, there was a family crisis and he was honorably discharged so he could return home. While working at International Shoe, Fred traveled to New York many times. He used to entertain clients and in this capacity had dinner with Debbie Reynolds and her second husband, Harry Karl, several times. He also knew Phyllis Diller and frequently went to parties in her Webster Groves home. Fred was friends with many police officers in the St. Louis area, as well as, many influential underworld elements with political ties. A police officer once told him that the FBI said he was a made-mafia member. Fred collected many things, but his favorite were eagles and whiskey decanters. He was always showing off the latest eagle or whiskey decanter to anyone who would look.
Fred Albert Butler, Jr. started his earthly journey on January 23, 1928 and completed his journey on August 31, 2017. Freddy was born to Fred, Sr. and Josie Alma Carey in Matthews, MO and was the eldest of six boys. He was a loving father, step-father, grandfather, great grandfather, and great-great grandfather. Many who knew Fred referred to him as “the most interesting man in the world”. He had many adventures and his family and friends enjoyed hearing his stories. Fred never really met a stranger and was always willing to help when someone was in need.
Fred’s work ethic was instilled at an early age through hard work on the family farm. His father purchased a new tractor and when he showed it to Fred, said to him, “Son, meet your new toy! It has lights so you can work after dark.” Fred said, it only took him a few days, “to get the hang of it.” Fred was 9 years old when he received “his” tractor.
A few years later, Fred, Sr., took him to town after school to introduce him to his boss for his first paying job. During the course of his life, Fred owned/ran a gas station (he was 19), three taverns, a trucking company, two County Cabs, and a janitorial service besides working for International Shoe, S. H. Gale, the U.S. Postal Service, and Shriner’s Hospitals in St. Louis.
Fred served in the U.S. Air Force from January 1951 to October 1953. While serving in the Air Force, Fred studied photo lithography and engineering for map reproduction and earned the National Defense Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. He spent some of his military career as a basic training Drill Instructor. While stationed in Waco, TX, he was befriended by a General and his military career flourished. He was part of the military force that established marital law after the 1953 tornado in Waco and spent ten days in an opposing cold war country on a top-secret mission, with a cyanide capsule in his pocket, just in case he was captured. He threw numerous parties for the General and met and had dinner with President Truman. Toward the end of his time in the military, Fred achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant and was headed to Officer Candidate School. Before this could happen, there was a family crisis and he was honorably discharged so he could return home. While working at International Shoe, Fred traveled to New York many times. He used to entertain clients and in this capacity had dinner with Debbie Reynolds and her second husband, Harry Karl, several times. He also knew Phyllis Diller and frequently went to parties in her Webster Groves home. Fred was friends with many police officers in the St. Louis area, as well as, many influential underworld elements with political ties. A police officer once told him that the FBI said he was a made-mafia member. Fred collected many things, but his favorite were eagles and whiskey decanters. He was always showing off the latest eagle or whiskey decanter to anyone who would look.
Fred’s work ethic was instilled at an early age through hard work on the family farm. His father purchased a new tractor and when he showed it to Fred, said to him, “Son, meet your new toy! It has lights so you can work after dark.” Fred said, it only took him a few days, “to get the hang of it.” Fred was 9 years old when he received “his” tractor.
A few years later, Fred, Sr., took him to town after school to introduce him to his boss for his first paying job. During the course of his life, Fred owned/ran a gas station (he was 19), three taverns, a trucking company, two County Cabs, and a janitorial service besides working for International Shoe, S. H. Gale, the U.S. Postal Service, and Shriner’s Hospitals in St. Louis.
Fred served in the U.S. Air Force from January 1951 to October 1953. While serving in the Air Force, Fred studied photo lithography and engineering for map reproduction and earned the National Defense Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. He spent some of his military career as a basic training Drill Instructor. While stationed in Waco, TX, he was befriended by a General and his military career flourished. He was part of the military force that established marital law after the 1953 tornado in Waco and spent ten days in an opposing cold war country on a top-secret mission, with a cyanide capsule in his pocket, just in case he was captured. He threw numerous parties for the General and met and had dinner with President Truman. Toward the end of his time in the military, Fred achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant and was headed to Officer Candidate School. Before this could happen, there was a family crisis and he was honorably discharged so he could return home. While working at International Shoe, Fred traveled to New York many times. He used to entertain clients and in this capacity had dinner with Debbie Reynolds and her second husband, Harry Karl, several times. He also knew Phyllis Diller and frequently went to parties in her Webster Groves home. Fred was friends with many police officers in the St. Louis area, as well as, many influential underworld elements with political ties. A police officer once told him that the FBI said he was a made-mafia member. Fred collected many things, but his favorite were eagles and whiskey decanters. He was always showing off the latest eagle or whiskey decanter to anyone who would look.
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