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Kevin's Story through the eyes of his parents

January 2025

It has become apparent after 29 years that many people viewing this website don’t know the story behind this foundation.  We will try to describe in brief words the life and tragic death of our son. 

 

KEVIN’S STORY

As viewed through the eyes of his parents.

We are Kevin’s mom and dad, Joan and Ken Butler. We were married in September 1977. As two young working adults, we rented a small one bedroom house near Ken’s workplace, and Joan commuted to York daily for her job. We worked and saved money to buy property nearby. In 1983 we built a three bedroom ranch house and now had some room to start a family.  On November 29, 1985 little Kevin came into this world at York Hospital. The beautiful blond haired blue-eyed bundle of joy weighed 8lb. 9 1/2oz.   He did arrive after a challenging pregnancy.  After the first six months of pregnancy Joan had to stop working and spent the next three months parked in her easy chair.   Kevin arrived the day after Thanksgiving and we were all so thankful the delivery was over.  Everyone was healthy. 

 

Kevin was a very typical young boy who loved to run and play like many other boys his age.   He was instilled by us with a love of country music, Nascar, and sprint car racing.  When he learned to ride a bike, he would ride in our driveway with a portable radio attached to his bike with a bungee cord listening to 107.7. 

 

Kevin had a best friend, Ashley Brownawell, who lived next door. They were close in age with Ashley being only six months younger. They played together and went to pre-school together at the Red Land Valley Church.  Later the two progressed to Wellsville Elementary School for kindergarten and beyond. 

 

In 1993 the Easter bunny brought him a motorcycle, a Honda 50.  Oh, what a happy boy to be able to ride like his dad.   Kevin and his dad even took their motorcycles up to Clinton County to the Butler family cabin.  Kevin’s dad had a boat and they loved to fish in Pinchot Park Lake. Kevin also would go skiing with his dad at Ski Roundtop.  Dad loved to hunt and Kevin would spend hours with dad in the woods behind their house cutting trails and just walking and sitting. Kevin loved the outdoors!

We would, like other parents, take yearly vacations.  Kevin loved going to Ocean City, Maryland with us and his neighbors, the Brownawell family.  Several winters the three of us flew to Florida to spend time with Kevin’s Grammy and Pop.   We visited Disney World, Epcot Center, and many other attractions. 

 

Kevin’s love of music led him in a new direction.  After third grade, he started playing the saxophone under the direction of Mr. Riley, the Northern High School Band director.  He really loved it.  We sometimes wonder how far that love of music would have led him.  Kevin was also a cub scout.  He truly loved scouting, from the little projects they did right up to the Pine Wood Derby.  He got a first-place trophy at his very first pine wood derby race.   What a memorable day that was.  He was good friends with all his buddies in his den.   He had two great den mothers, Julie and Luanna Slothower.

Kevin lived a short life, but Kevin lived an active life. 

 

Kevin started the fourth grade at Wellsville Elementary School in the fall of 1995.  On September 12th, he was crossing the road to board a school bus when he was struck by a passing vehicle.  He suffered a broken arm and fractured skull, in addition to other injuries.  He died two days later on September 14th.   We decided to donate our nine-year-old son’s organs in order to save the lives of others.  It was only right to do so as Kevin would always share everything with anybody. 

 

On September 18, 1995, the day of Kevin’s funeral, the Kevin Butler Memorial Scholarship Foundation was formed.  Pastor Thomas Shatto approached us and said some friends from the community wanted to start this foundation.  We have since become a 501(c)(3) public charity.   As you read on at this website you will see that in Kevin’s memory the Foundation has helped many Northern High School seniors as well as supporting the Wellsville area scouts. 

Kevin lived a short life, but Kevin lived an active life!

Thank you for caring enough to read about Kevin.

Mom & Dad

Kevin and his Dad ready to​ go riding

at the hunting camp.

Kevin and his Mom in Disney.​

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