Raymond "Button" Dee Rutherford

Raymond Dee "Button" Rutherford of Hayes Center passed away Monday, April 30, 2012 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, NE. He was 78 years old.

Button was born on March 27, 1934 in Glen Rio, New Mexico to Virgil McKinley "Cap" and Sylvia Belle (Batts) Rutherford. He graduated from Canadian High School, Canadian, Texas, in 1952. He continued his education at Texas Tech graduating with a degree in Animal Science.

Button entered the US Army on January 25, 1957 and was stationed in Germany during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged on August 4, 1958.

He was united in marriage to Jimmie Lee Fuller at Canadian on July 14, 1957. They made their home in Canadian until 1962 when they moved to their farm northwest of Hayes Center where they are still residing. Button loved the farm but his true passion was his cattle, horses, and flying. He was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and American Pilot's Association. In his free time he loved to read, write poetry, and watch college basketball and baseball, especially his Texas Tech Red Raiders and North Carolina Tar Heels. He loved spending time and telling stories with friends and family.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Virgil and Sylvia Rutherford; grandson, Jesse Korell; and sister, Hazel Collins.

Survivors include his wife of almost 55 years, Jimmie Rutherford of Hayes Center; two daughters, Christie and husband, Kenneth Korell of Hayes Center and Pamelia and husband, Donny Sailors of McCook; brother, J.R. Rutherford of Glazier, TX; sister, Imogene and husband, Dane Vinson, of Sallisaw, OK; four grandchildren, Kevin (Erin) Korell, Brooke (Ryan) Amateis, Derek (Tasha) Sailors, Mattew (Nicole) Sailors, and two great-grandchildren, Kambrey and Stockton Amateis; one honorary grandaughter, Joni Iverson; numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Memorials may be given in his name to the Hayes Center Ambulance Fund.

Visitation will be Friday, May 4, from 1-8:00 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 5-8:00 p.m., at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home in McCook.

Funeral services will be Saturday, May 5, 2012, 10:30 a.m. at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home in McCook with Randy Hayes officiating. Burial will follow at the Culbertson cemetery,