Mike Butts

Richard Michael “Mike” Butts, age 76, of White Hall, passed away on Thursday, March 12, 2026. A pioneer in the field of information technology, Mike was also a devoted husband and a cherished friend to many.

Born in Pine Bluff on December 3, 1949, he was the son of the late Lee Gladston Butts and Patsy Ruth Hoobler Butts. He spent his early years on the Pine Bluff Arsenal before his family moved to the White Hall community, where he graduated from high school in 1968. He continued his education at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

In 1968, Mike began his career at Simmons Bank as a computer programmer, working with the bank’s first computer and writing several commercial banking codes. He remained at Simmons until 1986, then joined First Commercial National Bank in Little Rock. He completed his professional career with 20 years of service at FIS (Fidelity Information Services) before retiring. In retirement, he turned his passion for home furnishings and décor into a new venture, opening two shops, Imagine and Treasures, in White Hall. He and his wife, Barbara, also maintained a booth at Carrie Scott’s Antiques.

Mike was a longtime member of First Methodist Church of Pine Bluff. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Ronnie Butts and Jimmy Butts, and his beloved dog, Ranger. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Crawford Butts, whom he married on August 7, 1970, in White Hall; his brother, Steve Butts of Pine Bluff; many nieces and nephews; his little dog, Barkley; and his cats, Chatty Mae and Chevy.