Gary "Butch" French

October 7, 1944 - October 23, 2017

Gary Dean “Butch” French Butch French was born October 7, 1944 to Desimond and Marguerite (Cossey) French in Leonard, Arkansas. He was the younger brother of Jo Carolyn French. On July 29, 1969, Butch married Judith “Judy Ann (Carter). The couple were married for 47 years until God called him home on Monday, October 23, 2017 at the Arkansas Methodist Hospital in Paragould, Arkansas. On November 10, 1970, the couple added their only child to the family and gave him the name of Kevin Dean French who then married Angela. Butch had a love for horses as long as anyone who knew him can remember. He rode and trained horses and when he became a “Papaw” to his only grandchild, Madison Laubach, he passed his love and knowledge of horses onto her. She was a great joy to him when she was barrel racing, playing volleyball or playing softball or just talking to him on the phone. Butch French was known by almost everyone in Rector and was even chosen to serve as the Grand Marshal of the Rector Labor Day Picnic Parade in 2016. For 36 years Butch could be seen at the Leonard Booth at the annual Labor Day Picnic and he was always ready and willing to serve food and talk awhile if you’d hang around. At one point, Butch and Judy owned and operated the Texaco Station in Rector. He worked for 26 years at Rector Sportswear in maintenance and six years at ARI welding. He also served 4 years in the National Guard. Along with his wife, son and daughter-in-law, granddaughter, and sister, Butch is survived by many other relatives and friends. A Celebration of Butch’s life will be held Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 5:30 at the Irby Funeral Home in Rector with visitation beginning at 4:30. You may sign the condolence book at www.irbyfuneralhome.com