Obituary of Douglas Button
With great sorrow and gratitude, the Button family announces the passing of Douglas “Doug” Cecil Button on Friday, March 24th, 2023, at the age of 86. Doug was born and raised a Teeswater local and remained a backbone of the town’s farming community during his lifetime.
Friends and family describe Doug as hardworking, gentle, wise, compassionate, generous, and always with a smile.
“Doug was a kind and thoughtful soul and will be deeply missed and remembered for the many lives he touched,” his daughter Shari Morash said. “Teeswater is a community he loved and was proud to call home.”
Doug was born on the family farm to parents Cecil and Inez Button on April 1, 1936 and remained there his entire life.
He frequently drove his Button Sand & Gravel dump truck through the main street of town, a sign of his industriousness and influence on the community. He also served as the president of the Teeswater Agricultural Society and volunteered on the fair board and Wingham & District Hospital Foundation board.
“Dad was selfless,” his son Darryl Button said. “If you needed anything, and he could provide it, it would be done — no questions, no asks.”
Doug was also a proud member of the Ontario Flying Farmers Association. He often took spontaneous trips to local fly-ins for breakfast and took his family members along for the ride.
In his free time, Doug tinkered in his shop on various projects, such as welding lawn art and repairing his machines. His Cessna 150 and Ferguson red tractor were his prized possessions. Doug was a dreamer, always thinking of his next big creation.
Doug was the husband of Frances Button, a former nurse at Wingham and District Hospital. The pair met at the CKNX Barn Dance in Atwood and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in December of 2022. Together, they raised four children at their family farmhouse on the 8th Concession, Teeswater.
“I feel lost without my right hand,” his wife Frances Button said. “Special thanks to all the staff at Wingham and District Hospital, R Villa in Ripley, Kincardine Hospital, and Kincardine Palliative Care that we were able to spend our last days together.”
Doug is survived by his wife Frances (née Liebrock), four children Sheila Gibson (David), Shelley Nobbs, Darryl Button (Karla), and Shari Morash (Scott) as well as sisters Lois (Wes) Nelson and Linda Ford, grandchildren Holly, Emily, Abbey, Samantha, Paige, Lukas, Brooklyn, Lily, Sarah, and Ella, and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Cecil and Inez (née Sacerty) Button, brothers Ken and Mait Button, and grandson Josiah.
Into his retirement, Doug continued to work and volunteer his time.
“Dad’s life on the farm was everything to him,” his daughter Sheila said. “Loved everything you did for the family. I miss you already.”
The Button family surrounded his bedside at the time of death, in a peaceful sendoff at Kincardine Hospital. Doug ended his life with a drive-by of the farm he held dear to his heart.
(Written by granddaughter Lily Button)
Visitation will be held at the Tiffin Funeral Home, Teeswater on Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m., where the funeral service to honour Doug’s life will be held on Friday, March 31st, 2023 at 11:00 a.m., with Reverend Bonnie Mair officiating.
The service will be livesteamed and a link can be found on the menu bar under "Livestream Link".
Reception to follow at Knox Presbyterian Church Hall.
Final resting place Culross-Teeswater Cemetery.
Memorial donations to the Teeswater Medical Centre, Teeswater Agricultural Society or Wingham and District Hospital Foundation would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy.
