In Loving Memory of Euhania H. Butler, Ed.D

We morn the death of Sister, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Aunt, Great Aunt, cousin, friend, and loved-one, Euhania Henri Butler, Ed.D. She was born in Seattle WA February 8, 1951 to Alfred David Butler and Henri Lois Pettus Butler. She was of the 3rd generation of the Butler family that was born in Washington State.

Euhania attended Leschi Elementary School, began Junior High at Washington Junior High School, finished at Monroe Junior High School, and she graduated from Ballard High School. She was one of the early voluntary transfer students, before busing became mandatory in Seattle. After high school she attended Seattle Community College where she met and reacquainted herself with what turned out to be lifelong friends and received her BA from the University of Washington, with her daughter Arastede in tow. She pledged Delta Sigma Theda at that time. After a break in education she resumed her quest for knowledge by receiving her Master’s degree from Seattle Pacific University and eventually completing her Ed. D at the Fielding Institute with the prompting of Dr. Maxine Mimms.

As a teen she worked at a gas station on the corner of 23rd and Jackson across from the poolhall. There she was introduced to some motorcycle enthusiasts as well as some drag race participants. If they weren’t drag racing late at night down on Airport Way they were in Tacoma at the SRO race track where Euhania “aka Hank” was driving Powder Puff. She worked at “Black Front Grocery store” for Mr. Victor. After her BA. she spent about a year in California where she taught school. She and Aaron Hairston, Sr. got married in Tijuana Mexico. She had many jobs before finally settling into teaching. She worked for the Seattle Post Intelligencer with the newspaper unions. She volunteered at a Montessori and I think that led her back to teaching.

She ran the Campi Program out of Leschi Elementary School before becoming the principal of Martin Luther King Elementary in the “Valley”. In 1997, she won the prestigious “Washington State Golden Apple Award” for Educational Excellence. After completing her Ed. D she became ill. Due to her illness she was forced to retire from teaching. During this time, she did a lot of travelling with a group of other educators. She went to Spain, Morocco, Italy, Greece (where she saw the Eagles practicing for a concert at the Parthenon), Egypt, The Holy Lands, Mali, the Ivory Coast, Aruba, Mexico and many Caribbean Cruises.

After a long time, she was able to return to the classrooms as a Substitute Teacher for the Renton School District. She truly loved life and would always speak about certain children that passed through her class rooms. She also loved the outdoors and spent a lot of time with her hands in the dirt. She grew all sorts of things, flowers, fruit trees, and any number of vegetables and fruit. There is always something sprouting up in the numerous flowerpots and different parts of her garden. We will miss that a lot.

She claimed that she had many books to write but she never got around to it. In her time, she dealt with every sort of person there is.

Euhania passed on January 8, 2021. She leaves to mourn her passing, her daughter Arastede Hairston – Kendrick, her son Aaron A. Hairston, Jr., sister Sina Butler Jackson, grandsons Christian Davis, Islamn Hairston – Kendrick, granddaughters, Tanya, Ashlyn, Avery Hairston, and Amiyah Barquet, nephews Rodd (Neena) and Marc (Leila) Jackson, great nephew Rashad Jackson, and great niece Sasha Rose Jackson Azurin. Many cousins, friends extended family and family by choice not by blood. Emidio and Sally Gomes, Josie Dean and family, John Gomes and family. Madison and Fredrick Tyler, Velia Lockett, Ester Lockett, Dorothy and Hank Stephens, Edric Bowles, Pat, Victor, Victoria, Katie, Hermenia Butler, Laura Newsom and their families.

Euhania loved the whimsical and the fantastic. Please join us in honoring her memory by releasing balloons and or blowing big balloons on February 8th, her Birthday.

We appreciate all the kind words that have been sent to us and all of the help you have given us in our time of mourning. Euhania was a force to be reckoned with but now she is at PEACE.