John and Mary Sue Butler will celebrate their 50th anniversary with a trip to Branson, Mo., with their children and grandson.
They were married Aug. 12, 1959, in University Heights Baptist Church in Stillwater before the Rev. Riley Eubank.
Their children are Stephanie (Kevin) Boucher, Skiatook; Stuart (Lori) Butler; and Amber (Alex) Almond, Mobile, Ala. They have one grandson, Jordan, Cushing.
Butler graduated from Stillwater High School in 1952. After completing four years of college at Oklahoma A&M, he joined the U.S. Army in 1956. He served in the band as assistant director, drum major and vocalist for two years at Fort Belvoir, near Washington, D.C. He returned to Oklahoma State University in 1958 and completed a bachelor of music education degree in spring 1959.
He worked for Chenoweth and Green Music and later for Saied’s Music, repairing band and orchestra instruments. He also served on the staff at UHBC as choir director and physical plant supervisor. He currently has his own band and orchestra instrument repair shop on North Main.
Mrs. Butler graduated from Fox High School in 1958. She enrolled in fall 1958 as a music major at OSU, where the couple met. After they were married, she taught private piano lessons for 16 years before beginning a career as a secretary with Stillwater Public Schools. She retired in 2008 after 33 years with the school system.
She was active for many years in the music program at UHBC, either playing the piano, playing in the bell choir or singing in the choir.
They continue to be active members of UHBC.
