Nila Faye Butler Schafer

July 15, 1935 ~ February 22, 2019
Nila Faye Butler Schafer was born July 15, 1935 in Ashland, KS to Claude Jackson Butler and Ethel Mae Littig Butler. She passed away in the early morning hours February 22, 2019 after a brief illness. 
Her parents and family moved often before arriving in Monticello, UT. She was in fifth grade when they arrived and by then it was her fourteenth school, but this time they stayed put for the rest of her parents’ lives.
Nila worked during her high school years as a waitress at the Lariat and Buckboard cafés. She waited on Charlie Steen once, and he asked what could he get for a dollar because that’s all he had.
She served him a hamburger and a cup of coffee. When finished he still had another dollar for a tip.
She also babysat for numerous families. The money she earned always went to buying nice clothes and shoes. 
Nila graduated from Monticello High School in 1953. On November 1, 1954 she married Vernon Roy Schafer in the Baptist Church in Aztec, NM, witnessed by a very concerned Claude and Ethel Butler.
Early in their married life Vernon and Nila lived in White Canyon where Vernon worked at the uranium mill. Nila often talked of the great time they had there and of the great friendship they had with all the other couples living there.
They moved back to Monticello and began building a business together which still operates. Nila always did the book work while Vernon did the physical end of the business. 
They came to know Christ shortly after their marriage and it transformed their lives from that day forward. Their faith in Christ was shown every day in their actions to their fellow man.
Their home was open to everyone who needed food, money, or help in any way. Nila, being married to a pastor, was required to take on a lot of extra duties that she excelled in. They truly helped those in need.
A niece recalls her giving $200 to a family trying to bury a loved one, and she told the niece not to tell anyone. 
When the biker group came to town in the mid 1970’s, most people watched them from afar and certainly locked their doors at night. But Vernon and Nila put them to work, fed them, and put a roof over their heads.
To this union two sons were born: Russell and Trent. During the boys’ high school years Vernon and Nila chased from wrestling match to wrestling match. That became their vacations. 
Vernon and Nila celebrated 50 years of marriage shortly before he passed away in 2004. After that she looked forward to her annual sister trips into New Mexico and Colorado.  
Nila is survived  by two sons, Russell (Terri) and Trent (Laurie), all from Monticello; five grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by her sister Theta Reynolds, brother Dean Butler, sister Beverly Butler, brother-in-law Victor Schafer, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her father Claude Butler, mother Ethel Butler, and husband Vernon Schafer.
Her siblings who preceded her in death are an infant brother; brothers Dewey Butler, Clifford (Buck) Butler, Lester Butler; and sister Lou Rogers.       
Funeral services were held at the First Baptist Church on March 1, 2019 followed by Interment at the Monticello City Cemetery.   

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