Graveside services for Emma Leona (Shade) Butts, 77, formerly of Livingston, Texas, will be held Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in the Center Hill Cemetery in Oakhurst, Texas. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the service begins at 10:00 a.m. in the Center Hill Cemetery.

Emma Leona (Shade) Butts, 77, formerly of Livingston, Texas passed away on July 21, 2018. Leona was born in Louisiana, Missouri on February 4, 1941, the daughter of George Alexander and Ruby Magdeline (Thompson) Shade.

Leona was married to Marvin Harvey Preston in Missouri and of this marriage, three children were born: Pamela Kay, Lawrence A. and Marva Leigh Preston. After becoming a widow, Leona would meet and marry the man she would call "the love of her life", James Monroe Butts. Together, they lived in Houston where they would grow as a combined family and prosper in life as a couple. Leona loved Elvis Presley and with Jamie, she enjoyed going to Las Vegas and they were thrilled watching the King of Rock live in concert. Leona loved to cook every New Year's Day as she/Jamie would invite all of their family and close friends to their home. Everyone would eat the "required" traditional foods for luck, riches, health and peace. This family festivity would give her loved ones the advantage in life for the next year ahead. This was one of many unique ways she would express her love and share her desire to please those she loved.

Leona loved seeing her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She and Jamie spent a great deal of hard work and time when they would decorate their home for Christmas celebrations with thousands of twinkly lights, Santa scenes, Christmas trees and reindeer sleighs with bright, colorful Christmas present displays. They would win neighborhood awards for "Best Christmas Yard" occasionally and this gave them great pride. They also enjoyed watching their kids/grandkids on July 4 ^th as they laughed and popped fireworks on the neighborhood cul-de-sac. Leona and Jamie truly wanted their combined families to come together and do well in life as families should.

Leona is survived by her son, Lawrence A. (Larry) Preston and daughter, Marva Leigh Preston-Coleman, both of Houston, TX. Stepsons/daughters: Theresa Butts-Alford, Huntsville, TX; Gerald Butts and wife, Pamela of Houston, TX; Craig J. Butts and wife, Kimberly of Onalaska, TX; Dayna Butts-Greenleaf and husband, Rick of Boulder, CO. Grandchildren: Amber Leigh Coleman of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Britney Leigh (Coleman) Dietz and husband, CPT John T. Dietz, US Army, Ret. of Waco, TX; Christie Marie Arce and husband, Hector Arce of Houston, TX; Christina "Tina" Marie Davison-Slaughter of St. Ann, Missouri.

Leona was preceded in death by her first husband, Marvin Harvey Preston, her beloved husband, James Monroe Butts, and in May 2018, her daughter, Pamela Kay (Preston) Davison-Ramirez of Conroe, Missouri.

Emma Leona Butts will be laid to rest at Center Hill Cemetery in San Jacinto County on July 25, 2018. She will lie in restful peace again beside her beloved James Monroe Butts.

Cochran Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Please sign our online guestbook at www.cochranfh.com