Bill & Carolyn Butler, co-directors of the Verdugo Hills Chorus,
at their last International performance in Nashville - November, 1998

 
From:            EveDeCuir@aol.com
Date sent:       Mon, 27 Sep 1999 20:36:55 EDT
Subject:         Harmonet Report - Bill and Carolyn Butler
To:              BBSHOP@ADMIN.HUMBERC.ON.CA

I pray you will continue to extend you patience.  There were times when Jen, Bunny and I had to choose between what was going on stage and the basic survival needs of convention goers.  Little things like the bathroom, eating, and waking up certain parts of our anatomy.

While out on a particularly crucial errand, there were some goings on that didn't make it into my report but that I did witness.  My coverage of choruses and quartets were done in real time so the words were born of my
immediate impressions...not later after "thinking" about them.  I felt this the only way to get as close to a real response as possible from this novice journalist.

That being said, I post the following:

One of the most touching displays we witnessed from the back of the audience was when Kathy Carmody brought everyone's attention to a color photography of Bill and Carolyn Butler on the big screen.  The expression on their faces, the poise of their stature, the gleam in their eyes...were evident.  These were special, happy people.

She spoke of their service, of the gifts they gave, and of the lives they touched. As a tribute to these two very special, well-respected, and well-loved people, Ms. Carmody asked that anyone that felt that they had have their lives touched by Bill and Carolyn Butler to please stand.  The entire audience stood and was silent for a moment.  There was one audience member I observed who could not stand as the rest had been asked for
he was not able to.  He did, however, sit up a little straighter.

The emotion contained in the silence could not be held too long, however, and the audience exploded into applause. There were people in the audience seen reaching out to a neighbor for a touch of comfort, smiles glistening with tears that shown the complex emotion of sadness and happiness at the same time...sadness for having lost them and happiness for having known them.  The heads of friends bent in affection toward one another as they shared words that were no doubt some happy remembrance to honor their lives...to honor
their memory...to honor their friends, Bill and Carolyn Butler.

They are missed.

In song,

The entire membership of the Barbershopping Community