Nina Jean Wright Butler

Nina Jean Wright Butler, 86, of Bella Vista, Ark., died peacefully in the morning hours of Oct. 27, 2012. Jean was proud to have been a cradle roll Presbyterian and attended the Presbyterian Church of Bella Vista. A native Arkansan, she was born and reared in Atkins, Ark., and was the eldest of six children of Earl and Ollie Wright. She retired after 35 years from the First National Bank in Fort Smith, Ark., and moved to Bella Vista from Austin, Texas, in 2004. In her church life and in her volunteer life, Jean had a servant's heart. Through the years, she was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith, Ark., the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas, and the Presbyterian Church of Bella Vista, Ark. She served her church in various capacities as a circle and committee member, deacon, elder and was a soprano in the church choirs. Jean was a dedicated volunteer for many years for the Austin's Children's Advocacy Center and parlayed her many years of customer service in raising money toward the building of the program. Jean dedicated her life to helping her only daughter, Brenda "Bryn" Butler, in any and all her endeavors. Jean was an accomplished seamstress and made custom pillows for her daughter's clients and was her daughter's best friend and travel companion for trips far and wide. She fully loved her sisters and enjoyed their children and grandchildren. She was the consummate hostess. Entertaining her family and church groups in her home brought her so much pleasure. Jean had a ready smile, a generous spirit and a loving heart. Her sisters and their families were dearly loved and she looked forward to celebrating birthdays and holidays here in Bella Vista with good fun, good food and lots of laughter. She was preceded in death by her husband of 39 years, Moody Butler; her parents; two sisters, Bobbie Zachary and Sue Farish of Morrilton, Ark.; and Jimmy Wright of Tulsa. She is survived by her daughter, Bryn, who shared her home for over eight years in Bella Vista, Ark; two sisters, Janell Swearingen, Freda Almond of Fort Smith, Ark.; and sister-in-law, Jeanie Brown of Claremore, Okla. Her service will be held at the Presbyterian Church of Bella Vista on Tuesday at 2 p.m. Oct. 30. A visitation at 1:30 p.m. will be held at the church prior to the service. Burial will be held on Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the National Cemetery in Fort Smith. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Circle of Life Hospice. Online condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.