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RICH RIEGEL
THE MID-COUNTY MEMO
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| Roger Sinnott of the Gateway Little Chapel of the Chimes stands in front of a memorial at the chapel to former Funeral Director Paul Butterfield. |
| MEMO PHOTO: TIM CURRAN |
Butterfield was a longtime funeral director at the Gateway Little Chapel of the Chimes, located at 1515 N.E. 106th Ave. Those who traverse the Gateway area on either Halsey or Weidler streets may recognize the business, located at Northeast 106th Avenue between the one-way streets.
Officials at the Gateway Little Chapel of the Chimes have created a memorial wall at the business in honor of Butterfield’s work.
“This memorial tribute to Paul was done by the staff of Gateway Little Chapel of the Chimes,” said Manager Tim Laubacher, “to honor the memory of a very special friend and comrade.
“All of the items displayed are tied to his life and our memories of him,” Laubacher continued. “There are a few of his multitude of civic and company awards, a depiction of his love for bonsai, and his hat from the many years he performed as one of the Gateway Area Business Association’s Keystone Kops.”
Some background on Butterfield would be appropriate.
Paul Butterfield passed away on March 12 at the age of 81.
Butterfield was born July 11, 1924, in Walm, Minn. In 1947 he married Elizabeth Bell; she died in 2002.
At the Gateway Little Chapel of the Chimes, he served as a funeral director and embalmer. He also worked as a funeral director at the Killingsworth Little Chapel of the Chimes in Portland.
With the exception of attendance at a mortuary science college, he had worked nonstop in a full-time capacity since 1947. He retired in 2003.
Butterfield was a past president of Greater Gateway Boosters, which is now the Gateway Area Business Association. He was also a charter member of the Gateway Elks Lodge No. 2411, and a past board member of the Northeast Portland Rotary.
He served on the Parkrose High School Building Committee and the Holladay Park Hospital board of governors.
Butterfield had a reputation among his peers and the families he served for providing compassionate, professional service to thousands of families over the span of his career.
One of the many thank you notes the Little Chapel of the Chimes received about Butterfield’s work exemplifies his helpful attitude.
“Paul Butterfield was most understanding and professional in handling all the arrangements,” the note stated. “His explanations were clear and comforting. We had previous excellent experience with him for my mother’s funeral as well.”
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