Roger Dean Butler

Bowlegs resident Roger Dean Butler died Monday, July 11, 2022 in Seminole.

Roger, the son of Roman Cooksey Butler and Juanita Ruth (Beaver) Kelly, was born December 31, 1959, in Claremore, Oklahoma.  He graduated with the Jones Academy class of 1978, where he was an all-state linebacker with his brother Bage Butler.  After high school he joined the US Navy, where he studied aviation maintenance.  Roger was married to Marina Carbitcher.  Roger worked for 21 years at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Wewoka Agency as the lease compliance technician.  He has served as a Bowlegs School Board member since 2018, and he was a range aid fire fighter for many years.

Roger was born in Claremore, but over the course of his life he lived in Claremore, Yeager, Tulsa, Okmulgee and Bowlegs.  He enjoyed playing pool and stickball; he also was an amateur pro disk golf player in the 80s; and he bred bully pits.  Roger enjoyed attending stomp dances; he was a devoted member at Peach Ground Ceremonial Ground; he loved watching and coaching his grandchildren in sports; but his favorite thing to do was to spend time with his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Ramona “Sister” Butler, and Ruth “Sugars” Mendoza; and a brother, Ronald “Bage” Butler.

Roger is survived by his wife, Marina, of the home; son  Gannon Brown of Norman; daughters and sons-in-law, Tia Brown and Ray Dyer, of Bowlegs, Raelynn Butler of Tulsa, and Shannon and Mike Hart of Seminole; brothers, Randall “Book” Butler and Jansen Butler, both of Tulsa; 17 grandchildren, Alexis Harjo, Tafv Harjo, Boy Harjo, Natalia Sewell, KayKay Harjo, Nylah Brown, Leland Hart, Amellea Brown, Kyrie Brown, Jezzlyn Hart, Demaris Brown, Aubrie Butler, Lillie Butler, Bubba Butler, Ronnie Butler, Boomer Butler, Miracle Butler; and many other family and friends.

Honorary pallbearers are Boy Hill, Sterlin Harjo, Dave Haney Sr., George Thompson, Gregg Lewis, Tre Harjo, Peach Ground Warriors, Mike Hart, RayRay Dyer, and all of Roger’s nephews.

There will be a wake service at Roger’s house, the evening Wednesday, July 13.

Funeral service will be Thursday, July 14, 2022, at 1:00 P.M. at Swearingen Funeral Chapel in Seminole, with Paul Fixico officiating.  Services are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole.