Sylvia Gayle Galloway Butler

Sylvia Gayle Galloway Butler, age 69, formerly of Little Rock, Ark., died at her home, Saturday, February 26, 2017, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born September 6, 1947 in Clarksville to Truman C. and Brenda Allison Galloway. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, James E. "Jim" Butler. Sylvia was a 1965 graduate of Clarksville High School. She attended the University of Central Arkansas and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Biology and a Masters Degree in Special Education. She accrued graduate hours in special education from the University of Tennessee in Nashville and Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia. Sylvia began her career teaching developmentally delayed and disadvantaged youth. She developed a reading program while working for the Pulaski County Special School District that allowed a number of students to move into mainstream education. After completing her teaching career in special, secondary and post-secondary education, Sylvia became an administrative professional with extensive experience in organizational management, human resources administration, and budgeting and educational program development. She was knowledgeable in state and federal standards governing the care and education of developmentally disabled patients. She completed her career as Administrator of Arkansas Pediatric Facility, a 53 bed intermediate care facility dedicated to teaching life skills to individuals with disabilities from birth to age 21 years. Sylvia retired in 1995, though continued to work as a consultant. She will be remembered as someone who spent her life taking care of others. Sylvia was a talented potter, artist, gardener and cook. Family and friends will miss her companionship and the many memorable holidays spent around her table. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, James Bradley and Sarah Bown Butler of Portland, Ore.; her brother and sister-in-law, William W. "Bill" and Judy Galloway of Russellville, Ark. Her longtime companion, John Voss, of Portland, Ore., passed shortly after her. Memorial service and burial will be private and at a later date. Memorials may be made to Arkansas Easter Seals, 3920 Woodland Heights Road, Little Rock, Ark., 72212 or to a charity of your choice.