Butch Morrill

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

Sometimes there are people that grace this Earth that are larger than life. Not a soul would argue that Butch Morrill was one of those people. Lloyd “Butch” Morrill, 73 was as unique as he was wonderful. Butch went home to be with the Lord from his Riverton, KS home on December 7, 2021 after a long fight against Leukemia.

Butch was born on August 30, 1948 to Lloyd and Grace Morrill. He attended Riverton School with the Class of 1966, until his Senior year when his patriotism called him into the Army.

Butch was lucky enough to have his wife as a friend first. Their friendship grew into a bond that love just doesn’t describe enough. Butch married Sandy Gooch on August 1, 2015.

Upon returning from the military he began working for Hall’s Pest Control and remained there for over 47 years. During the first several years, he also worked as a Galena Auxiliary Police Officer as well. In 2017, Butch took over Hall’s Pest Control and changed the name to Butch’s Pest Control where he continued to work up until his diagnosis in July 2020. In his career, Butch spent time in over a several hundred businesses and homes in his service territory. He bonded with everyone beyond a business relationship. The first thing mentioned by most of his community was the laughter. It was impossible to spend any amount of time with Butch without him bringing a smile to your face. Between his orneriness, his jokes and his personality he guaranteed smiles with his presence. Upon retirement, most customers mentioned that Butch felt like a member of their family and he felt the same.

Butch was a member of the VFW, American Legion, and Cherokee County Sportsmen’s Association. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, meeting his friends at McDonalds for coffee, watching westerns and spending time in Butch’s Mancave. As an avid fisherman he loved and took pride in his boat. He loved spending his time with family and friends and his children, whom he loved more than life. Butch never met a stranger and had a story for everyone.

In life sometimes the toughest people are not known for their warmth, Butch defied logistics when it came to this. Toughness was something that he radiated. He didn’t have to say it, he didn’t have to prove it, he just had a grit about him that you knew upon meeting him that he could walk the walk if needed. Not a single person would ever question his tenacity or toughness, but he was able to still have a pure heart that was kind and approachable. Butch was a Veteran to the core. He loved this country and what it stood for. Butch served in the Army in the 101st Airborne unit as well as the 4th Infantry Division. He earned the National Defense Service Medal, a Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Bronze Service stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Combat Infantryman Badge. He earned Expert, Sharpshooter and Marksman on various military rifles. During his time in the Vietnam War he fought on Hamburger Hill among other locations and spent time in the DMZ.

Family and friends were important to Butch. He recently talked about the number of friends on his Butch’s Army Facebook support page and was humbled by the amount of people that were praying for him. It is impossible to list everyone that had a special bond or relationship with Butch. He cared about people to a level that most can’t understand. The saying that someone would give the shirt off their back was created for people like Butch. Butch is survived by his spouse, Sandy Morrill, Riverton, KS. He leaves behind his children, Danny Morrill, Galena, KS and Buffi Freeman, her husband Chet Freeman, Hallowell, KS. Bonus kids include John Gooch, Carthage, MO Bryan Gooch, Pittsburg, KS Tom Gooch, Baxter Springs, KS and Joanna Clark, Lawton, OK. His grandchildren Tyler and wife Raychelle Morrill, JaVohn Morrill and Hannah Morrill. Bonus grandchildren are CJ and Morgan Freeman, Cody and Caitlin Freeman, Lacie Gooch, Blake and Shandelle Gooch, Kaitlyn and Matthew Howard, Skylar and Eran Olsen, Lucas Gooch, Emma Gooch, and Hayden Gooch. Great Grandchildren include Braxton, Lily, Blaire, Karson, Cayson, Oakley, Colson, Breckyn, Stephen, and Alayna. He is also survived by the mother of his children, Diana Morrill.

Butch is proceeded in death by his parents, his sister Florence Crimm, and brothers George Morrill, Ronnie Morrill and Clifford Burrous.

Family visitation will be Sunday, December 12th from 2-4 pm at Derfelt Funeral Home, Baxter Springs, KS. Graveside services will be Monday, December 13th at 10 am at the Friendship Friends Church Cemetery, Hallowell, KS. A Celebration of Life Dinner will be put on by the family after the Graveside services at the Riverton House of Prayer Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the family in Butch’s honor at Derfelt’s. A charity or charities will be selected by the family at a later date.

A special thanks go out to everyone that has encouraged, shared stories and prayed for this family during this lengthy battle. No amount of words can explain how much he appreciated what everyone did for him.