Kathleen Mary Butler of Lakehills, Texas, passed away on Sunday August 23, 2026 at the age of 88. Mary was born in Birmingham, England to Cecil John and Kathleen Agnes Rhodes on March 8, 1938. She married Michael Butler on June 28, 1957 in Birmingham, England and had two children, Simon and Lynn.

She obtained her PHD in Latin American History from Johns Hopkins University and worked as a college professor for several different universities. After moving to Lakehills she worked at the Lakehills Area Library and made many friends there.

Mary had a wide variety of interests and talents. She was an avid gardener and took great joy in tending to her flowers and vegetables. She enjoyed painting in water colors and once had a showing of her work at the Lakehills Area Library. She loved to read and always had at least 3 books checked out from the library. She had a great love for animals and was a foster parent to dogs of all shapes and sizes.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Michael Butler, brother John Rhodes and sister-in-law Carol Rhodes.

She is survived by her beloved dog Bess, her son Simon Butler and his wife Melissa, daughter Lynn Parker and her husband Tom, brother Philip Rhodes and his wife Chris. She has 3 grandchildren, Brittany, Carissa, and Grace and multiple great grandchildren.

The family will have a private service.