Funeral services for Mrs. Emma Jane Latham Butler, age 83, of Carthage, Texas, will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 21, 2010, at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Freddy Mason, Rev. Paul Thomasson, and Dr. Graves Enck officiating. Interment will follow in Clayton Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. Mrs. Butler passed away on Thursday night, March 18, 2010, in Carthage.

Emma Jane Latham Butler was born on July 8, 1926, in Clayton, Texas, to William Harrison and Ila Lola Brannon Latham. She graduated from Carthage High School with the class of 1943. After graduation, Mrs. Butler worked at the First State Bank in Carthage. She met Vernon Jackson Butler and they were married on Dec. 18, 1947, in Carthage. She and Mr. Butler owned and operated Butler Chevrolet for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Butler were a very community oriented couple and were involved with many service projects within the area including the Carthage Service League. She enjoyed cooking, going to the beach in Galveston with her family, and traveling. In her early years, she taught Sunday school at First Baptist Church and later became a member of the First United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband who passed away on July 27, 1981; one daughter, Linda Jane Butler; and four sisters, Ruth Goolsby, LaVerne Lade, Leah Paul Latham, and Alice Hough Jarvis.

Mrs. Butler is survived by her daughter, Judy Kelley and husband Steve of Carthage; one brother, William "Billy" Latham and wife Dolores of New Ulm; two grandchildren, Stephanie Kelley Roberson and husband Mark and Dr. Matthew Kelley and wife Ashley all of Carthage; three great-grandchildren, Emily and Hannah Roberson and Blaire Kelley. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and many friends also survive Mrs. Butler.

Serving as pallbearers are Dr. Matthew Kelley, Mark Roberson, Max Lade, John David Feagin, Mike Enck, Greg Goolsby, Lonny Penwell, Josh Penwell, and Nick Manesh.

Serving as honorary pallbearers are T.G. Davis and Drew Nixon.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Heart's Way Hospice and Dr. Akpassa as well as Mrs. Butler's caregivers, Carolyn Herald, Frankie Meza, Jessie Tatum, and Jonetha Webb for the loving care shown to Mrs. Butler during her illness.

If desired, memorials may be made to Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Building Fund, 1050 CR 108, Carthage, TX 75633 or the First United Methodist Church, 201 S. Shelby, Carthage, TX 75633.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.