Earlier this week, while poking around on the internet after deadline, I was saddened to learn of the passing of Leona Butts two days before the 4th of July. She was a long time resident from Clearlake Oaks and a Record-Bee reader and supporter.
She was also involved with many community activities like the Lake County Federation of Republican Women and with the Live Oaks Senior Center. I did not always agree with her stance on politics, world views or ideology, but that is what makes America a great place, people can agree to disagree and still remain civil.
I learned from Lower Lake resident and Redbud Audubon Society member Roberta Lyons, another Record Bee reader and supporter, that Butts was also a long-time member of the Audubon society. Lyons wrote on Facebook that Butts and her husband DA were also very active with Clear Lake State Park. She also noted Butts used to call herself a “green Republican.”
Lani Kane, fellow Lake County Federation of Republican Women member, who also serves on the Lucerne Town Hall advisory council, said she loved Leona and that she was more than just her friend. I am sure there are others who share the same sentiment.
Betsy Cawn, formerly member of the Lucerne senior center board said Butts was one of many of the citizens who have dedicated their later years to the county’s senior centers, children’s programs, fire protection, and community benefits and exemplified this type of community service.
Olga Martin Steele, president of the Lake County Community Radio Inc. and KPFZ community radio, and secretary of the Lake County Silver Foundation, noted that Leona was at every Senior Summit, always helping out as a volunteer and constant booster of the special day honoring Lake County senior citizens. “She was intelligent, eloquent and someone you could disagree with and stay friends. Miss her dearly,” Steele wrote on Facebook.
For my part, I always enjoyed discoursing with her and informing her about local issues while for her part, she kept our staff abreast of parts of the county, especially Clearlake Oaks and south county, at the many coffee meetings we had around the county before COVID-19 put a halt to face to face gatherings. I remember the last time I saw her in person I was with our freelancer Lucy Llewellyn Byard at Buddy’s Coffeeshop in the Oaks.
I wondered why she went AWOL late last year when we held a meeting in her area. You see, she was always a constant. Later that day I got the email. “Hi Ariel, got away from doctor’s office too late to join you and Lucy for coffee yesterday. Had wanted to. Just read the article on California gas prices. On Hwy 20 Clearlake Oaks, it is already over $4. Tuesday it was $4.05. I filled with regular while in Clearlake for $3.599.”
Notice the precision she used to detail the price difference, it was typical of Leona Butts, she paid attention to details, but she also took the time to write expressing her disappointment for not being present at the weekly meeting to give us feedback and to contribute to our discussion. She closed with this: “Thank you for helping to get the word out on what is happening in Lake County.”
Her last email to me after a friendly debate on some issues she wrote, “Thank you. Always like your input.” I believe she did. Rest in Peace, Leona Butts.
