Carolee “Cookie” McComb Butler, 81, of Lake Mary, Florida, passed away on Thursday evening, August 10th in the comfort of her daughter’s home surrounded by her loved ones. Carolee was born on August 27th, 1941, to Arthur and RoAnne McComb in Ft. Scott, Kansas. They called her Cookie from the time she was born and that is the name she grew up with. Her legacy began in the small rural town of Ft. Scott. It was here that she spent her school age days with her sister and father and other extended family. She established lifelong friends and to this day, she has family and friends still living there.
After high school graduation, she married and quickly started a family, having her first son, Richard Wilson, in 1961 at 20 years old. Eight years later, after moving to Kansas City, she welcomed her daughter, Rene Beerbower Wirth, in 1968. In 1973, she met the true love of her life, and married Robert “Bob” Arthur Butler. Bob had three daughters; Christina, Susan, and Jessica, and they instantly became a family of seven – a real-life Brady Bunch. Cookie held various administrative jobs through the years while raising 5 children with Bob. After several moves through Kansas, then Massachusetts, eventually Bob’s career led them to Florida in June of 1986, where they started BIS Inspection and Audit. After Bob’s sudden passing in December of that same year, Cookie continued this business and eventually passed it on to her daughter and son-in-law. Upon her retirement at BIS, she owned a boutique where she embraced her true passion- her love of jewelry, accessories, and fashion.
In her official retirement, she resided at Grand Villa of Deland and then most recently Strive Senior Living. Cookie loved playing cards, reading Danielle Steel books, solving hundreds of word search books, watching Jeopardy and spending time with her friends, family, grandchildren, and grand dogs. She loved happy hour with her White Zinfandel, live music and being surrounded by her dear friends.
Cookie loved animals dearly, especially dogs. She rescued and raised many throughout the years that were as important to her as her own children, namely Pepper, Cher, Max, April, Mischa, Percy and Dudley. Cookie’s love for fashion was evident in her unique sense of style, which almost always consisted of some type of leopard print. She was a gatherer and socialite, a wonderful friend to many, and did not judge anyone by what they had or who they were. Her generosity never went unnoticed as she loved gifting and lending a helping hand. She could bring a smile and laugh to anyone’s face, never meeting a stranger. Her witty humor, gentle kindness, infectious smile, and contagious laugh are unforgettable.
She was always known for being the life of the party. Even in her assisted living community and in her final days in hospitals and hospice, she continued to crack jokes, create new friendships, and like some said, “make life easier.” She will be missed and remembered by anyone that crossed her path.
Cookie was preceded in death by her parents, Arther and RoAnne McComb, her stepmother, Mary Jo McComb, her sister, Shirley Hill (Jim), her husband Bob and her stepdaughter Susan. She is survived by her son, Richard (Debby) Wilson; grandson Michael (Sarah) Wilson, granddaughter Kelly (Jimmy) Gilligan; her daughter Rene Wirth (Bill Leblanc), granddaughters Kayla Wirth and Makenzie Wirth, stepdaughters and children, Christina Denenberg, Jake and Katie Denenberg, and Jessica (Brad) Allison, Matt and Miranda Allison. She would also want us to remember her grand puppies: Thatcher, Dory, Quinn, Luka, Popcorn, Dolce and Big Mac!
Graveside services are scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Friday, September 15, 2023, at the Fort Scott National Cemetery, and are under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall St., Fort Scott, Kansas. Condolences may be submitted to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.
