C. Lee Butler of Savannah died at home on January 5, 2023. Lee was born in Chicago in 1926, the son of Clifford Leroy Butler and Ethel Williams Butler. He graduated from New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL in 1944. Five days after his 18th birthday, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served on the Italian front in World War II. After two years of service, he was discharged as a sergeant. Following the war, he studied for a year and a half at the University of Lausanne. He completed a bachelor’s degree at Duke University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He then attended Northwestern University Law School for a BSL Degree and received the LLB Degree from Duke University Law School. He was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity. While in law school, Lee met and married Betty Stanley of Savannah, GA. Their first child, Darsey, was born during Lee’s final year of Law School.

The new family moved to Evanston, IL and Lee went to work for The Northern Trust Company, where he began to learn about money management and the trust business. At this time, a second child, Julie, joined the family. After four years, the Butlers moved to Savannah. Lee took a job at the Citizens & Southern National Bank, where he worked for twelve years, ultimately serving as the head of the Trust Department in Savannah. In this time, Lee and Betty welcomed two more children, Malcolm and Margaret.

In 1970, Lee left the bank to found his own business, the Fiduciary Services Corporation, now The Fiduciary Group, a successful investment management firm. Writing in the last years of his life, Lee recalled “not enough credit is accorded to our early clients. They took a chance on an experienced but untried person . . . And they stayed with us through up and down markets. These clients became our dear friends.” He also wanted to remember “four bright young women who were instrumental in our success.  They are Debra Bragg, Jean Walz, Tammy  Monroe and Mary Day.” In 1972, Mr. Butler partnered with the late Senator John R. Riley to establish Managed Industries, Inc. Lee served as chairman of both companies. For a number of years, he wrote a financial advisory column called "Managing Your Money" which appeared in the Savannah Morning News and other newspapers.

Mr. Butler served at Memorial Medical Center as member, vice chairman, and chairman of Chatham County Hospital Authority. He also served for 12 years on the board of St. Joseph's Hospital of Savannah. He was a member of numerous other business and civic boards. Through his professional activities, he served as Trustee of numerous private and charitable trusts. He was a member of Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church, since first coming to Savannah in 1957, and a member of Rotary for over forty years. His club memberships included the Oglethorpe Club, the Savannah Golf Club and the Savannah Yacht Club.

After a number of years, he turned the financial management business over to his son and was finally able to engage fully with his “addiction” to tennis. For many years, he played five or six days a week, ultimately reaching first place in the 80s Division in the South Carolina state tournament.

He is survived by his four children: Elizabeth Darsey Butler, M.D. of Atlanta; Julia H. Brasfield (Hunt) of Morehead City, NC; Malcolm L. Butler (Julia) of Savannah; and Margaret B. Huguenin (Sanders) of Wise, VA. He also leaves behind nine grandchildren: Rebecca Guenther (Eric); Lucia Butler; Bennett Brasfield (Katrina); Edward Brasfield (Lauren); Larkin Eskew (Ryan); Natalie Butler; Bess Brunson (Nate); Jack Huguenin; and Malcolm Huguenin; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Also surviving are four great-grandchildren: Charles Hunt Brasfield, Lucas Victor Guenther, Chloe Eleanor Eskew, and Gwendolyn Mae Brasfield.

He is predeceased by his parents, his wife, Betty Stanley Butler, and his two sisters, Margaret B. Newton of Tucson, AZ, and Dorothy B. Calhoun of Ocean Pines, MD.

The family would like to thank the following for their loving care: dear friend, Charlotte Fordham, and the kind caregivers and staff at Comfort Keepers.

The funeral service will be held on Thursday, January 12 at 11:30 a.m. at Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church in downtown Savannah.  There will be a reception following the service.