Marvin Lee Butler
Feb. 1, 1939 – April 18, 2017

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Marv Butler passed away unexpectedly but peacefully at his home in Clearlake Oaks on Tuesday, April 18.

He is survived by his partner of 45 years, John Ryan, of Clearlake Oaks; daughters, Noelle (Algis) Kukenas of Los Angeles and Robin Lara of Sacramento; grandson, Anthony Butler-Bates; and great-grandchildren, Elijah, Nasim, Melan’Ie and Zahire. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends he considered family. He is preceded in death by his brother, Kenneth Butler.

Marvin was born Feb. 1, 1939, in Solano County, the second of two sons to Harry and Urzilla Butler.

Marv spent the first years of his childhood growing up in the foothills surrounding Georgetown, Calif.

The family later moved to the Sacramento River Delta town of Rio Vista, where his mother’s family had lived for generations. There he was active in Boy Scouts, earning the God and Country Award, and graduated from Rio Vista High School where he lettered in football, basketball and track, and was a member of the school’s choir and drama club.

Two months before graduating high school, Marv married his high school sweetheart, Jeannette Jennings, and they became the proud parents of two daughters, Noelle and Robin. While the marriage was short lived, Marv and Jeannette remained friends throughout their lives until Jeannette’s passing in 1985.

Following graduation from high school, Marv served in the U.S. Army, both stateside and in Germany.

Returning to Rio Vista after his term of military service, he attended and graduated from San Joaquin Delta College with a business degree while also serving as student body president.

Spanning a 30-plus year career in banking, Marv worked for both Crocker and First Interstate Banks, residing in Stockton, Red Bluff, Healdsburg, Napa, Roseville and Los Angeles before finally moving to Clearlake Oaks in the late 1980s.

While living in Stockton, Marv was active in both the Stockton Civic Theatre and Pollardville Palace Showboat Theatre, performing in vaudeville revival as well as classic stage productions. During this time, Marv also served as choir director at his family’s church in Rio Vista, commuting each weekend from wherever he live.

In the late 1960s, Marv purchased a large family cabin in the Russian River community of Rio Nido where he often hosted friends and family, including his daughters’ Girl Scout troops. While vacationing by himself at the Russian River in 1972, Marv met his soulmate and future life partner, John Ryan.

Marv was still active in banking when he and John opened their first hair salon in Yountville, Calif. The business expanded to salons in other locations, and included building a distributorship that offered training and professional salon products that served salons and beauty colleges covering an area from Sacramento to the Oregon border.

When Marv finally retired from banking, he and John settled in Lake County, an area they had been vacationing at for years. They owned salons in Lakeport, Ukiah and Nice, with the Nice salon operating up to the day of Marv’s untimely passing.

Upon relocating to Lake County, both Marv and John quickly became involved in local business and civic matters.

Marv’s passion for the people and communities of Lake County, and the lake itself, led him to become active in the Lake County Fair, serving on the fair board for a number of years, and, more recently, running for county supervisor for District 3. In addition to serving on the fair board, Marv’s other proudest achievement while living in Lake County was serving as planning commissioner for then-Supervisor Gary Lewis.

Although busy operating a local business and heavily involved in community matters, Marv still found time to travel. He and John enjoyed many trips in their motorhome and were active members of the Rainbow RV camping club. In addition to RVing, he and John also enjoyed taking cruises, especially with friends from Lake County.

Marv will be remembered for his friendly demeanor, booming voice, ability to get the job done, outrageous sense of humor and, more than anything, a laugh that was like no other. Marv lived life on his terms and squeezed as much as anyone could into 78 years.

A celebration of Marv’s life will be held at the Lake County Fairgrounds’ Little Theater in Lakeport on Saturday, May 20, at 2 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Operation Tango Mike, 5216 Piner Court, Kelseyville CA 95451; or Almost Home 4ever (pet rescue & adoption), P.O. Box 13174, Sacramento, CA 95813.

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