Lori Scates Butler, 65, of Eureka Springs Arkansas, passed on November 11, 2025. Born January 20, 1960 in Kansas City, Missouri to Oscar Scates and Mary Anne Scates.

She met her husband, Darrell Butler, when working at Harmon Electronics in Independence, Missouri and married in 1990. Together they would raise their two children, Matthew Butler and Thomas Butler there.

She found her passions in Karate, graduating to a first-degree black belt in American Kenpo Karate Academy in 2008. From there she began to take a role as a junior instructor, helping train others in Kenpo Karate in various locations around the Independence area of Missouri. Later in life she moved back to Eureka Springs to care for her mother and father. She found joy in visiting the big cats at Turpentine Creek. She also enjoyed the holidays in Eureka Springs and many local festivities like the Zombie Crawl and the motorcycle events. Lori is survived by her sons, Matthew Butler and wife Sarah McNeill Butler with grandchildren Coralee and Ezra Butler, and her son Thomas Butler and wife Alyssa Roxanne Wright Butler; her sister, Sandy Tigerstorm (husband Paul Tigerstorm, deceased); brothers, Tony Scates (wife Vicki Scates, deceased), Jim Scates and wife Jan Scates and her father, Oscar Scates.

Lori is preceded in death by her husband, Darrell Butler; sister, Robin K. Miller and her mother, Mary Anne Scates.

Memorial service will be Saturday, November 22, 2025 at the Eureka Chapel of the Springs at 10:00 a.m. Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson Funeral Service. Online condolences may be sent to nelsonfuneral. com.