Mary Ann Rourke Butler

Mary Ann Rourke Butler, 81, of Charleston, South Carolina, wife of Albert Waylen Butler entered into eternal rest Monday, November 20, 2023. Her Funeral Service will be held Saturday, November 25, 2023 in J. Henry Stuhr Inc., Downtown Chapel, 232 Calhoun Street at 11:00 a.m. Rite of Committal will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday in the Downtown Chapel from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. 

Mary Ann was born March 21, 1942 in Charleston, South Carolina, daughter of the late Frank Ellison Rourke and Barbara Harley Rourke. She was a graduate of Bishop England High School Class of 1960 and the Medical College of South Carolina School of Nursing. After marriage, Albert and Mary Ann relocated to Atlanta, GA for Albert’s career.  However, before they left Charleston, Mary Ann made Albert promise he’d bring her home to Charleston.  Albert kept his word and the couple returned to Charleston in 1973 where they settled with their two children, Skip and Allison.
  
Albert opened a company, and Mary Ann made a wonderful home for their family, volunteering frequently at the children’s school by playing piano for the lower grades and serving lunch on Thursdays with the infamous “Hot Dog Ladies.”  She also loved volunteering with the Charleston Cancer Society. Never one to sit still, once the children were older, Mary Ann joined Albert at Butler Hardware & Specialty, Co., helping grow the company they built. Mary Ann and Albert’s love of adventure and travel brought them to countries all over the world. One of her most memorable trips, however, was taken without her husband when Albert lost a bet to Mary Ann’s father and had to send Mary Ann, her sister Roberta, and her mother and father to Ireland to explore their family roots. Mary Ann’s quick wit, sense of humor, love of a good joke, and zest for decorating at the holidays will be forever missed. Her sparking blue eyes and radiant smile captivated everyone she met.  Mary Ann was a member of the MUSC Alumni Association and Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. 

She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Albert, son Albert W. “Skip” Butler, Jr. (Sandra), and daughter Allison Butler Jackson Owings, brother, Frank Ellison “Buddy” Rourke, Jr. (Joyce), and sister, Roberta Ann Rourke Classen (Randy), and grandchildren Julia Ragan Jackson, Charles Capers Owings, Jr., and Sandra’s son, Cody Auberger, all of Charleston, SC.

The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to all of the staff, caregivers, and amazing nurses at Bishop Gadsden Retirement Home who took such wonderful care of Mom.  They would also like to express their thanks to the staff, nurses, and doctors at Roper Hospital and Roper Hospice Care for their exceptional kindness and expertise in making a difficult time more bearable.

Memorials may be made to Bishop Gadsden's Employee Appreciation Fund, 1 Bishop Gadsden Way, Charleston, SC 29412.