Shannon Earl Butler, 70, of Athens died Tuesday, March 4, 2008, at Crestwood Hospital.

The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. today at Rogersville Funeral Home. Dwight Raburn will officiate. Burial will follow in Butler Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Micah Nash, Mathew Nash, John Wisniewski, Keith Butler, Scott Cook, Shane Phillips, Bobby Butler and Steve Butler. Honorary pallbearer will be Sonny Sullivan.

Mr. Butler was preceded in death by his parents, Early and Lena Butler; brothers, Ingram and J.P. Butler; and a sister, Lilian Butler.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Butler; daughter, Donna Joe (Farrell) White; grandsons, Jason and Justin White; great-grandson, Braxton; sister, Sue Nash; sisters-in-law, Dorothy and Ruth Butler; foster sister, Rhonda Carpenter; and several very special cousins, nieces and nephews.

Mr. Butler was a member of New Oakland Baptist Church in Athens. He was a 50-year member of Local No. 377, Madison, and UAW No. 2195. He was retired from Saginaw-GM, Decatur.