Union County coroner found dead Thursday
Democratic Committee has 25 days to field new candidate for office
Union County Coroner Curtis Butterfield was found dead at his Parkers Chapel home Thursday, according to local law enforcement.
Union County Sheriff Ricky Roberts said one of Butterfield’s neighbors called the sheriff’s office after finding Butterfield unconscious in his yard Thursday. Roberts said it looked like Butterfield, 78, was watering his plants when he fell and hit his head on a metal sawhorse.
“He was a good guy. He dedicated most of his adult life to Union County,” Roberts said. “He’s going to be missed.”
Though he was found Thursday, Butterfield’s date of death was listed as Wednesday, according to information the coroner’s office gave to Young’s Funeral Home.
The El Dorado Police Department Capt. Kevin Holt said the department was saddened at the news of Butterfield’s passing.
“Those of us that have been here a number of years have had numerous occasions to work with Butterfield,” Holt said. “He was truly a man that cared for his job. He always worked toward doing the best that he could with the type of job that he had.”
Holt noted that Butterfield’s job as coroner meant he was always meeting and talking with people in times when they had lost a loved one, “but he always went about it in a professional manner.”
Butterfield was first elected coroner in 2002, after serving 15 years as a deputy coroner. He had previously worked for the Union County Road Department and Solid Waste Department, as well as the El Dorado News-Times as a reporter, photographer and editor.
In an interview earlier this year with the News-Times, Butterfield described his transition to public servant.
“During a tragic accident years ago when I was road superintendent I nearly gave my life,” Butterfield said. “At that time, I promised
my Lord that I would dedicate the rest of my life serving the people of Union County.”
Butterfield, a Democrat, was in the process of running for re-election against Stormey Primm, a Republican, with the race set for the Nov. 6 general election.
“Curtis was more than a friend or boss to me, he was a mentor and treated
me like family,” Primm, who formerly worked as a deputy coroner, said in a Facebook post on his campaign page. “He had a heart of gold and was one of a kind. … The community definitely has a huge void now and will take time to heal because we have lost a great man.”
Election Commissioner Kermit Parks said that when a candidate for
office passes away before the election, it is called a vacancy in nomination. He said the Union County Democratic Committee will have 25 days to select a new candidate; if they do not, there will not be a Democratic candidate for county coroner on the ballot.
Union County Judge Mike Loftin said a new coroner will be appointed
at the July 19 Quorum Court meeting. The Quorum Court may not appoint the same person nominated for the Democratic candidacy for the position. Until then, deputy coroners will handle the caseload, he said.
“We’re fortunate in the county that the coroner’s office has several deputy coroners that will continue the work that
Butterfield had started and been doing for a number of years,” Holt said. “I’ve known Curtis both professionally and personally for a number of years and it is a loss.”
Chief Deputy Coroner Dave Thomas is performing the investigation into Butterfield’s death.
A visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m. today at Young’s Funeral Home.