Butch Saunders
1945 – 2025
San Manuel, AZ

Oscar Eugene Saunders
                                               "Butch"

Butch Saunders went to be with the Lord on, December 29, 2025. He was born to Lester and Ruby Saunders on December 29, 1945, in Du Quoin, IL and was one of seven children. Butch is survived by his wife Betty Saunders and his three daughters, Cindy Garcia (Henry), Carolyn Conway (Robert), and Brenda Zazueta.

Butch Saunders met the love of his life, Betty Ann Moberly in grade school and they attended Phoenix Union High School together. Butch and Betty were married on September 4, 1965, and moved from Phoenix, AZ to Chicago, IL, where he worked for Paly-School Toy Factory. From 1965 to 1969, they welcomed their three lovely daughters and in 1971, Butch and Betty moved their young family back to Arizona where they have lived in the Tri-Community ever since.

Butch Saunders worked for Magma Copper Company and BHP Copper for 28 1/2 years where he made many lifelong friends. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Grover Dasher
(who was a Pentecostal Preacher) Butch took on the role of Youth Pastor at Tri-Community Christin Fellowship, now known as Living Word Chapel in Oracle, AZ.

In 1985, Butch had the joy of becoming, "Papa Butch," and had six grandchildren, Amber Vavak, Kimberly Jacobo, Tiffany Garcia, Nicole Conway, Johnny Jimenez, and Trent Conway. He was very active in their lives. They enjoyed riding horses, and participating in gymkhanas together at the Troy Creel Arena, in San Manuel, AZ where Butch was the Sheriff's Posse President for several years.

Over the years, his six grandchildren blessed him with fourteen great-grandchildren, Isaiah Sanchez, Tyson Vavak, Gabriel Rodriguez, Nichols Vavak, Lexi Rodriguez, Anthoney Vavak, Antares Rodriquez, Adelynn Vavak, Izrael Rodriguez, Stetson MacRae, Jace Jacobo, Gianni Rodriguez, Dante Jimenez, and Judah Jacobo and two great-great-grandchildren, Scarlet Sanchez and Skylar Sanchez.

Butch Saunders's happy place was the great outdoors, where he loved going hunting and fishing with his family and friends. Butch was a fun-loving, Man of God that you could always count on. He was always around to help you tag out your hunt and would literally give you the shirt off his back. Butch will be greatly missed by many, but the memories we have with him, and the stories we tell will ensure his memory lives on.