Our History
The Butler Funeral Home has been in Bolivar, serving the families of Polk and the surrounding counties since 1958. Formerly the White & Erwin and Erwin & Blue Funeral Home, Paul D. Butler and Mary Lou Butler opened their doors in August 1958. Joining the business in 1969 was their son R. Stephen Butler and later by Stephen's wife Jarolyn, in 1989. Mary Lou Butler passed away Nov. 6, 1988 & Paul D. Butler passed away on June 30, 2007.We are just as committed in showing you that Butler Funeral Home is a name you can trust in the future as we have for the past 54 years.
In Memory of R. Stephen Butler, 1947 - 2017
R. Stephen Butler lived in Bolivar all of his life. A 1965 graduate of Bolivar High School, he attended Southwest Baptist University for 3 years, then enrolled in Dallas Institute Of Mortuary Science and Gupton-Jones graduating with a degree of Funeral Services Practitioners in Mortuary Science in 1969.After returning to Bolivar he started his apprenticeship under his Dad, Paul D. Butler and his Mother, Mary Lou Butler.
He obtained his Embalmers and Funeral Directors License from the state of Missouri in 1969. In 1968, Stephen married Jarolyn Stanfill in Caruthersville, MO. Stephen was a life member of Optimist International, a member of a the First Christian Church of Bolivar, Bolivar Area Chamber Of Commerce, Past District Nine Director of Missouri Funeral Directors And Embalmers Association and The National Funeral Directors Association. Stephen dedicated his life to Funeral Service by helping those families they serve as if they were his own family.
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Jarolyn Butler, CEO/Funeral Director/Preneed Agent
Jarolyn was born in Caruthersville, MO and graduated from Braggadocio High School in
1965. She attended college at Southern Baptist College in Walnut Ridge, AR, then
transferred to Southwest Baptist University in 1967. She met Stephen Butler at SBU and
was married in 1968. She is a member of the First Christian Church in Bolivar and has
served as a coordinator in various organizations such as The American Cancer Society, The
American Heart Association. She has also been a member and officer in the Beta Sigma Phi
Sorority in Bolivar.
Jarolyn's business career began while Stephen was attending Mortuary School in Dallas, TX
at the Park City Bank in Highland Park then retiring after 20 years with Commerce Bank of
Bolivar, MO.
Jarolyn became a Licensed Funeral Director in 1989 and assists her husband Stephen in
the daily operation of the funeral home. Jarolyn feels the importance of serving our families
as a funeral director with the compassion and dedication that they deserve
In her spare time, Jarolyn and her husband, Stephen, like to travel on various cruises, going to many different shopping destinations,and spending time together.
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Kyle Lancaster, Manager/Funeral Director/Embalmer
Kyle was born in Fort Scott, KS and graduated from Fort Scott High School. He attended Kansas State University, earning his Bachelor of Science in Sociology/Criminology. He then received his Associate of Applied Science in Mortuary Science from Kansas City Kansas Community College. Kyle currently serves on the Board of Education for Bolivar R - I Schools, and is a member of the board of directors for the Bolivar Educational Advancement Foundation. Kyle and his wife, Sarah met while they were both attending mortuary school. Sarah now stays home to raise their daughters, Olive and Daly. Kyle and Sarah are excited to be back in a smaller community to raise their family, after relocating from Kansas City in December of 2014.
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Alan Hall, Funeral Director/Embalmer
Alan was born and raised in southwest Oklahoma. He graduated from Fletcher High School in 2005, and then attended American Academy McAllister Institute, in New York City, where he received his Funeral Service degree, in 2009. Alan has been working in and around funeral homes for over 15 years.
In 2007 Alan married his high school sweetheart, Jennifer, who has supported him in their journeys ever since. Jennifer now works as a physical therapist assistant. In 2010 Alan and Jennifer expanded their family to include their son, Isaiah. -
Taylor D. Howe, Funeral Director/Embalmer
Taylor D. Howe was born and raised in Lebanon, Missouri. He graduated from Lebanon High School and continued his education, graduating from Southwest Baptist University. Taylor then attended Dallas Institute of Funeral Service where he graduated in the Spring of 2016.
Taylor met the love of his life at Southwest Baptist, and they were married in June of 2016. She teaches the third grade in Hermitage, and they are both very excited to be a part of the community that brought them together. -
John Smith, Administrative Assistant
John was born on October 11, 1944 in Unionville, Missouri the son of Robert H. Smith and Irene (Williamson) Smith. On John’s 4th Birthday the family moved to Bolivar because of Dad’s job with the newly formed Missouri Conservation Department.
John attended Grade School and High School in Bolivar. He also Attended Southwest Baptist College. While in School he was active in Sports – Glee Club and mixed Chorus and school Plays.
Also during this time he was very active in his home church, The First Christian Church in Bolivar, where he has served an Elder for many years. The Church sponsored Boy Scout Troop 128. John’s Dad was Scoutmaster and he prompted John to do his best in the Scouting Program. Thus John became an Eagle Scout in the class of 1959.
In the summer of 1967 he joined the United States Navy. After Boot Camp he was sent to Hospital Corps School. After that he was sent to Field Medical Service School where he was trained to be a field Medic with the United States Marine Corps.
John spent six years on active duty and was discharged in 1973. Following his military service John began a career in the automobile industry. He was a salesman for nearly 25 years.
In 1999 he joined the Butler Funeral Home, where he had worked during his college years prior to joining the Navy. At the age of 72 he remains on the job at the funeral home. -
Janet Keith, Office Manager-Humansville Chapel
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Charles McGinnis, Funeral Service Assistant
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Melissa Britton, Office Manager/Butler House Director
Melissa Britton was born and raised in Springfield, Missouri. She graduated from Hillcrest Highschool, and continued her education, graduating from ITT Technical Institute, with a degree in Criminal Justice.
Melissa has two children, Ashley and Matthew, with whom she was a stay at home mom for eighteen years.
Melissa is currently the Coroner for Polk County, and joined Butler Funeral Home in March of 2017.