Dr. Steven Ray Butcher, 67, of Stockton, Missouri, passed away at Home on April 23, 2024. Born on March 6, 1957, Steve was the son of Everett Elmer Butcher and Shirley Ann Poindexter Butcher. He was the eldest of three sons.
Steve is survived by his wife, Cindy Andress Butcher of Stockton, along with his two children, Jonathan Butcher of Stockton, Missouri and Elizabeth “Bess” Butcher (Daniel) Hochstedler of Ozark, and two grandsons, Benjamin and Emmett. He is also survived by his mother, Shirley Butcher of Stockton; and his two brothers, Stuart (Jannice) Butcher of Liberty, and Scott (Jackie) Butcher of Winchester, Kansas; and sister-in-law Connie Andress (Dave) Stinson of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Steve leaves numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, and nieces. He loved his family very much.
Steve was raised on a farm in Blairstown where he attended a three classroom elementary school in Norris. His boyhood on the farm was filled with adventures, which he frequently recalled with affection. He
attended Clinton High School, and then he graduated with honors as a Biology Major at Southwest Baptist University where he met and married the love of his life, Cindy, in 1979.
After graduating from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1983 and completing an Internship at Charles E. Still Hospital in Jefferson City, he served in Holts Summit, Missouri and Helena, Arkansas. Finally, he and Cindy settled in Stockton where he served as a devoted family physician for over 30 years. Steve loved his patients and the Stockton community where he became known as a good listener and compassionate practitioner. As one recently said, “Steve was an amazing doctor.”
Steve had many hobbies, which led to research and expertise in fields of interest well beyond medicine.
Photography, travel, and bike riding were favorites. Spelunking, hunting, hiking, nature, music, archery, golf, muzzle-loading, the mountain man rendezvous, fly fishing, lure crafting, reloading, and more all widened his horizons. Steve’s vast interests helped him relate easily to others with similar hobbies.
Steve loved the Lord and Church, serving as the teacher of an Adult Sunday School Class and as a Deacon for many years. He went on numerous mission trips as a counselor with the Abiding Faith Youth Drama Team. He also served on medical mission teams to Honduras and Guatemala.
Among his many accomplishments, Steve gave generously of his time and devotion to the Stockton School Board for 8 years. He also served the Citizen’s Memorial Hospital in multiple professional and volunteer capacities, including being a primary advocate for the bringing of Nurse Practitioners to the State of Missouri.
In September of 2018, Steve was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a fast-growing type of cancer that had settled in his brain. Aware of the disease’s potential devastation, Steve and Cindy bravely chose life over resignation. Through years of treatment that followed, Steve frequently said, “Use me in whatever study brings understanding to the medical community.” Steve and Cindy said “Yes,” to every nutritional, alternative, and conventional recommendation, and Steve became the “miracle patient” who exceeded his doctors’ expectations. In the face of a predicted life expectancy of 15 months at the time of his diagnosis, Steve lived more than 5.5 years beyond it, and he did so with grace, determination, and most of all, faith in knowing that no matter what, his Lord and Master would carry and protect him. On the last full day of his earthly life, Cindy took comfort in discovering that their Bible verse for that day was especially fitting: “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten… And you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you.” Joel 2:25-26
The family will receive visitors at the Bland-Brumback Funeral Home in Stockton on Friday, May 3, from 5 – 7 pm. A second visitation will be held Saturday, May 4, at 9 am at Harvest Assembly in Fair Play, followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 10:00 am. A Graveside Service will be held at the Stockton Cemetery following the service at Harvest.
All who knew and loved Steve are invited to join the family to remember and celebrate his life at these services.
