Ann Butler

Obituary of Ann Louise Butler


Ann Butler passed away peacefully on December 11, 2018. Born in Boston Massachusetts on June 22, 1946 to Edward and Hope Butler, she moved to La Jolla California at a young age and that is where she fell in love with the beach. She attended the University of California at Berkeley and ultimately graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz. 

During the 1980s she started her own preschool in Santa Cruz called the “Little Red School House.” Affectionately known as “Teacher Annie” to her students, the schoolhouse was just next door to the Branciforte Elementary School. For more than 15 years, Ann enjoyed the parents and especially the many children whose lives she helped enrich. She had a passion for working with children but ultimately decided to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a lawyer. 

While attending law school, Ann worked as a courtroom clerk for the Santa Cruz Superior Court. After graduation from Monterey College of Law and passing the bar exam, Ann worked in the office of corporate counsel for Plantronics. In the 1990s she started her own private practice as a real estate and business attorney. During this time, she served on the board of Save our Shores, was Commissioner for the Santa Cruz County Assessment Appeals Board and was a member of Women Lawyers of Santa Cruz. 

Ann enjoyed going to the beach, taking long walks, reading, gardening, watching the San Francisco Giants and Stanford University women’s basketball, and raising her daughter Kelly. Together they traveled to Park City, Utah, Santa Barbara, La Jolla, and they took their annual trip to Maui each August. Between Ann’s two careers as a preschool teacher and a lawyer, Ann became known by many, especially strangers whom she met along her daily walks on East Cliff Drive. She will be remembered for her sense of humor, her strong-willed nature, and her unconditional love for Kelly whom she is survived by along with the many others whose lives’ she touched. 

A special thank you to Cedar Creek Alzheimer’s Care family in Los Gatos who gave above-and-beyond care and love to Ann. 

A private committal is planned.  If you would like to leave a condolence or your reflections of Ann with her daughter, please visit the Benito & Azzaro homepage.

 

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Ann’s memory to Save Our Shores or the Alzheimer’s Association.

 

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A Memorial Tree was planted for Ann
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel