Ralph Bernard “PeeWee” Button, age 83, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away early Thursday, June 2, 2022, at his home. He was born March 5, 1939, in Ft. Scott, the son of Merle Button and Mable Dunham Button. PeeWee grew up running the streets and playing along the river in Bell Town where he also helped with the family business, Button’s Auto Salvage. He married Rosemary Mann on February11, 1956. Together, they had two children Steve and Debbie. Ralph co-owned Button’s Auto Salvage and later opened his own business, PeeWee’s Auto Salvage on south 69Hwy in Ft. Scott. In addition to working at the salvage yard, PeeWee was also a firefighter.
He began working for the Ft. Scott Fire Department in 1973 and retired as Captain in 1994. His wife, Rose, passed away on June 12, 1996. He later married Charlotte Martin in February of 2000. Following his retirement from the fire department, he went to work for a time at Wal-Mart. PeeWee will be remembered for his friendly and cheerful personality. He had a hard time sitting still and enjoyed tinkering on different projects, going fishing and metal detecting.
Survivors include his wife, Charlotte, of the home; a son, Steve Button and a daughter Debbie Button, both of Ft. Scott, five grandchildren, Shannon Miner(Bob) and Kyle Holmes all of Ft. Scott, Tommy Button of Texas, Misty Gorman (Devin) of Pittsburg, Kansas; a step-son, Brian Harper (Linda) of Ft. Scott; three step-grandchildren, Jackie McCool(Clayton) of Joplin, Missouri, Jacob Harper of Humansville, Missouri and Jace Harper of Houston, Missouri and several great and step-great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are three sisters, Mary Button and Merlene Button, both of Ft. Scott and Judy Snow of Mound City, Kansas and numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his first wife, Rose, Ralph was preceded in death by his parents three brothers, Ronald, Donny and Bobby Button and five sisters, Shirley Armstrong, Patty Smith, Tammy Merriman, Patsy Button and Bonnie Phillips.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, June 8th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial will follow in the Centerville Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from5 to 7 P.M. at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
