Obituary of Andrew Nathan Butchard

On Sunday, August 6, 2017, Andrew Nathan Butchard left this world peacefully after a courageous three-year battle with cancer in the comfort of his home surrounded by members of his loving family.Andrew “Andy”, the son of Virginia Lou Butchard was born on December 13, 1954 at All Saints Hospital in Fort Worth, TX. He was the second of three children, his older sister Nathalie Kay Mirkes and younger brother Michael Eric Butchard.Reared in an entrepreneurial family, his interest and command of Accounting, Finance, and Business Management was evident at an early age. He graduated from L.D. Bell High School in 1972 and thereafter attended Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, TX where he graduated with a degree in Accounting in 1976. Upon graduation, he returned to Fort Worth and received his CPA (Certified Public Accountant) license where he began his career at Sproles Woodard LLP as a Public Accountant in downtown Fort Worth. His entrepreneurial spirit would continue to grow leading him to a life-long career of founding and managing many successful enterprises in the areas of real estate, automotive, and construction. He navigated the highs and lows of the housing boom and subsequent Subprime Mortgage Crisis during the early to mid-aughts to then right the ship and found additional successful businesses he managed up until the day of his passing.As a young man, he was an avid member of the Fort Worth Jaycees, a civic organization for young professionals where he would ultimately meet and court his future wife, Ellecia Ann Kleuser. On October 6th, 1984, Andy married the love of his life, Ann. They were affectionately known as “Raggedy Ann and Andy.” Three years later, in 1987, Ann and Andy had their first and only son, Hilton Lee Butchard. Two years later, they were blessed with a daughter when Ellecia Ann Butchard was born.To many, Andy was a man of the Silent Generation but born a Baby Boomer. He had a deep nostalgia and appreciation for mid-20th century Americana including classic wooden boats, cars and motorcycles. In other aspects, he was a modern-day Lewis and Clark, constantly in pursuit of new rivers and lands driven by a basic curiosity of the unknown. His numerous journeys include navigating thousands of river miles such as the Cumblerland, Colorado, Ohio, and Missouri Rivers for weeks on end in nothing more than a 1960s-era Thompson or Chris Craft wooden boat, two cross country treks atop a motorcycle, and countless camping excursions with his beloved family.When he wasn’t restoring and tinkering with classic wooden boats, he was consuming books at an unprecedented pace. “A voracious reader” would not do justice. He was particularly fond of books centered around Military History, 20th century America and books of famous explorers and public figures. His all-time favorite author was Mark Twain. He could effortlessly and confidently recall pivotal dates, places, and people throughout time with historian-like precision. Pursuit of education and intellectual curiosity were traits he cherished and were the greatest gifts he bestowed upon his children and all whose lives he touched.In his closing weeks, he gave his now son-in-law, Michael, his blessing to wed his only daughter, Ellecia, and made the promise to see to it he would make it to their wedding day. He fought like a true warrior each and every day leading up to their wedding as the cancer continued to spread. After the ceremony, on Sunday, August 6th, Ellecia and husband Michael, along with family gathered with Andy to celebrate the closing of a fulfilling and loving life as well as the start of a new. Knowing his daughter would be loved and cherished from that day forward, Andy passed away peacefully shortly thereafter. The Butchard family wants to graciously thank all the friends, family, and caretakers for their compassionate and loving support and care of Andy.Andy is survived by his wife, Ann Butchard; children, Hilton Butchard and Ellecia Randle and husband, Michael Randle. Andy is also survived by mother, Virginia Butchard; sister, Kay Mirkes and husband, Jim; and brother Michael Butchard and wife, Gloria as well as numerous family and friends.