Don was born with fight in his soul at a teensy 3 pounds on July 9th, 1938 to Gladys Imogene Butts and Hal Woodrow Butts in Winona, MS and departed this life on July 25th, 2025 after a 10 year battle with Alzheimer's disease.

He is preceded in death by his parents, baby sister, Kathy Hayes and bonus daughter, Kristy Herman.

He is survived by his wife, Dianne Stefanick, son Don Butts Jr, bonus daughter, Brittney Moore (Alex), granddaughter, Brittain Maxwell, brother, Larry Butts (Wanda), nieces Kim Travis (Mark) and Terri Meyer (David), nephews, Stephen Butts (Carolyn), Michael Butts (Janet) and David Rodgers; as well as numerous beloved friends and family.

Don was a kind and gentle soul who was adored by his many patients, his beloved office staff Kim and Valerie, family and friends. Despite his successful medical career, he was a down-to-earth and humble man. He was always searching for knowledge and enjoyed reading quietly but also loved people. He also enjoyed travelling, dancing, attending Celtic festivals, many types of music and good food.

Don graduated from Greenwood high school in 1956. He then studied engineering at Hinds Junior College and received his Bachelor's of Science degree from Mississippi State in 1963. He served in the Navy as an Aviation Electronics Technician honorably from 1956-1963. His service took him to California where he worked as a Tech Writer from 1963-1971. Don returned home to Mississippi and pursued a different path in medicine, with pre-med studies at Millsaps and studies focusing on neurology at University of Mississippi School of Medicine, graduating in 1976. He provided exceptional care as a neurologist for the remainder of his career and served as Director of Medicine for 1 year. He was beloved by nurses and colleagues as well as his many patients. Nurses would comment that it was a bonus that they could actually read his handwriting.

Don married Dianne Stefanick on August 25, 2002 where he gained two beautiful daughters that he loved and raised as if they were his own.

The family would like to thank the Mississippi State Veterans Home of Jackson and Compassus Hospice for their wonderful care and support.

A private celebration of life will be held on August 16, 2025 from 2:00 pm – 4:00pm for family and close friends at the family home. If interested in attending, please contact Dianne Stefanick or Brittney Herman Moore via Facebook.

The family would like to ask all attendees to bring a small card or note with your name, how you know Don and a memory or note for a memorial book in lieu of a guestbook.

In lieu of flowers we ask for donations to made in his memory to the MIND Center at UMMC to help fund research to crack the code of Alzheimer's through research. www.https://umc.edu/Development/How/Funds/MIND-Center.html