Margaret D. Butler

Butler, Margaret D., ?Maggie,? passed away peacefully Saturday, April 7 after a lengthy illness. Born June 25, 1919 in Kansas City, MO, the daughter of Hugh and Nellie Shafer Devling, she moved to the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area from Chicago in 1946. Maggie and her late husband, Roland, co-owners of Hill Tours and owner of Bayfront Tower Travel, traveled extensively around the world during the ?50, ?60 and ?70?s. Her specialty was in wholesale tours of the Caribbean, where she was widely known and recognized. In addition to her career in the travel industry, Maggie was an expert seamstress, who for several years was named to St. Petersburg?s ?Best Dressed? list, with her ?made by hand? originals. She was a member of St. Peter?s Episcopal Cathedral and the St. Petersburg Yacht Club for more than 50 years. She was also a former past president of the Cripple Children?s Hospital Guild, the Stuart Society and a member of several travel industry organizations, including ASTA American Society of Travel Agent. Maggie is survived by her daughters Mary Scott Hopkins of St. Petersburg, Suzanne Ron Norten of the Chicago area, and Barbara Ferris of Orlando. Also surviving her are her 5 grandchildren, Tara Sloan and Shannon Farran of Tallahassee, Jeff Crawford of Salt Lake City, UT, Brian Crawford of Chester, CA, and Louis Ferris of Orlando and 6 great-grandchildren, her sister, Mary Gove of Frederick, MD and her brother Willard Devling, of Colorado Springs, CO and many nieces and nephews and their families. She was blessed by the friendship of her faithful housekeeper of 46 years, Dorothy Jackson, and her caregiver, Neva Fuller who cared for her these past three years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roland, in 1988, her parents, and a brother, Benjamin. She will be missed by her family and friends who admired her for her fierce determination, and strong will!