Richard Carl Butts

Richard C. (Dick) Butts, 70, of Concord, NH., passed away peacefully at CRVNA Hospice House in Concord NH on August 28, 2017 after a nine year battle with metastatic bladder cancer. He was born in Worcester MA on December 4, 1946 to Howard and Marian (Vaillancourt) Butts.

Rich attended Worcester schools, graduating from North High School, where he lettered in 4 sports and was junior and senior year class president. He was voted "most popular" in his senior class yearbook. He excelled in sports, particularly baseball, playing 1st base on championship city teams, setting records for longest home run and highest batting average. In his later years, he joined the Concord Pub Dart League, where he perfected a technique that won him many awards and friendships, including a trip to the World Championships in Chicago. He and his teammate were ranked 25th in the Worlds event that year.

Dick held a number of jobs in the heavy-duty truck industry, including parts, warranty, and sales, where he won many awards selling his favorite Peterbilts. He was lucky to love what he did. He worked at NH Peterbilt in Concord and Bow from 1989 until his retirement in 2012. During his retirement years, he was an usher at the NH Fisher Cat games in Manchester, where he demonstrated his gift of friendly hospitality, particularly with children. Like most New Englanders he had a serious devotion to the Red Sox and the Patriots.

Dick was a member of First Congregational Church in Concord NH, serving in several capacities on several church groups, but his favorite was playing Santa Claus at the church holiday fair. He was a kind and generous man with a wonderful sense of humor, always trying to make people smile and feel good about themselves.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Susan (Hammond) Butts, his beloved son Richie Butts of Concord and Framingham MA, his brother Allen and sister in law Doris of Sturbridge MA, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, brother Donald, and sisters Evelyn and Pauline.

Dick had great respect for Dr. Ronald Yap and his staff at Concord Urology, Dr. Fred Briccetti and staff at NH Oncology, all the staff at Healthsouth Rehab Hospital, and most of all for cousin Mary Kae Eckert MD and her team at Concord Hospital palliative care group. Mary Kae and husband Mike Brown provided exceptional support and love during his final weeks. Friend Jan Amaral of Los Gatos CA was a wonderful caregiver in his last days at home. His family is grateful for the kind support of the staff at Hospice House in his final days, as well as the comfort provided by his good friend Doug Gullett of Billings MT as Dick passed from this life to the next.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at First Congregational Church, 177 North Main St. Concord, on October 28th, at 11am. All will be welcome to join his family in remembering this exceptional man. There will also be a committal service at Riverside Cemetery in Plymouth NH at the family's convenience.

Memorial contributions in his memory may be made to the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association (USA), Suite 500, 8588 Potter Park Dr. Sarasota FL 34238. ( www.pwsausa.org ).