Earnest Laverne "Butch" Minehart KEWANEE, MO – Earnest Laverne "Butch" Minehart, of Kewanee, died Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011, at his home. He was born March 5, 1924, in LaValle, son of Finis and Minnie Lape Minehart. He and Florence Opal Zuck were married May 22, 1943. She preceded him in death on Sept. 11, 1995. Butch was lifelong farmer, retiring in 1997. He moved to the LaForge area in 1952 and later moved to Kewanee in 1977. Survivors include three sons, JW (Debbie) Minehart of Lake Wappapello, Larry Eugene (Mary Jean) Minehart of Kewanee, and Lee (Cindy) Minehart of East Prairie; three daughters, Lenda (Tommy) Pearson and Pansy (Larry) Glenn of Kewanee, and Cathy (Steve) Barbre of New Madrid; 18 grandchildren, Darla (John) Horton of O'Fallon, Jimmy Minehart of Winnie, Texas, Brinda Kaye (Matt) Daniels of Benton, Chris (Rachel) Miller of East Prairie, Lisa (Kenneth) Dalton of Kewanee, Julie Pearson of Fulton, Theresa (Dave) Taylor of White House, New Jersey, Keith Allen (Eva) Minehart, of Germany, Leslie (Ricky) Pearson of New Madrid, Lisa Musgrave of New Madrid, Lynn (Michael) Choate, and Lara (Kenny) Eads of Poplar Bluff, Jeff (Tracey) Glenn of Cape Girardeau, Doug Glenn of Kewanee, Jonathan (Belinda) Glenn of Malvern, Ark., Jason (Tara) Minehart of Sikeston, Stephen James Barbre and Chad Allen Barbre of New Madrid; 35 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Charlie Minehart and Bill Minehart; three sisters, Beaulah Kelly, Mary Northcutt, and Christine Isabel Fisher; one grandson, Scottie Lee Barbre; and one great-granddaughter, Chelsea Danielle Minehart. Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Richards Funeral Home in New Madrid. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with Pastor Earl Davidson officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in New Madrid.