Myra Douglas Butler Thomas - after 84 years of living and loving with great joy, humor, and amazing grace, departed this life peacefully for the next on March 7, 2011. Born Feb. 22, 1927 in Scotland Neck, NC to Dr. Stacy and Mrs. (Elizabeth Jerome) Butler, she was preceded in death by both of her parents and her brother the late G. Jerome Butler of Claxton, GA.

A resident of Springmoor Retirement Community of Raleigh where she happily spent the last 12 years with her devoted husband, Myra was the beloved wife of the late Dr. Ben. Thomas of Zebulon, N.C. She was a member of Edenton Street United Methodist Church, Raleigh, NC and a lifelong United Methodist. She is survived by her adoring family,daughters, Stacey Hughes Williams of Leesburg, VA and Jane Hughes Euler of Vienna, VA ; stepchildren Dr. Ben David Thomas of Atlanta, GA; Neil Thomas of Ashville, VA; and Michelle Thomas of Marshall, VA,; and 10 grandchildren—as well as a host of close knit extended family and friends.

A 1949 graduate of Greensboro College (Greensboro, NC) Myra taught kindergarten in Fairfax County, VA for 15 years while raising her two girls as a single parent (following her divorce and career as the Army wife to Major (ret) Thomas W.L. Hughes, Jr.). Myra was designed to educate, illuminate, and radiate: wise and wonderful, she touched the lives and hearts of many school children and all who were blessed to know and love and be loved by her. Myra appreciated people and the gift of life—she rejoiced in music, and loved to dance and laugh. Possessing a child-like faith, both in her Creator and in humanity, Myra is remembered for her sense of wonder at the beauty of God’s handiwork: nature, and in particular, animals. Her legacy of incredible personal strength and integrity, coupled with a sweet and gentle spirit of kindness, will live on.

A memorial service will be held at Springmoor Retirement Community in Raleigh on Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 2:30 PM. The family will receive guests immediately afterwards. Following a private family interment, a celebration of Myra’s life and resurrection will take place at Rose Hill United Methodist Church, Rose Hill, NC on April 10, 2011 at 3 pm.

Contributions may be addressed to 'Springmoor Endowment Fund', and mailed to Springmoor, 1500 Sawmill Road, Raleigh, NC 27615.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary’s St. Raleigh.