. Mary Terese Butler, 39, of Grafton, Wis., and a former Ironwood, Mich. resident, died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2009, the victim of a homicide in her home. She was born March 15, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio, daughter of Robert and the late Leatha (Zak) Butler. She and her mother moved to Ironwood in 1980, where she graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1987. Mary was an animal lover of all kinds with a special passion for horses. She got her first horseback rides aboard Shetland ponies which her family raised when she was a small child in Ohio. As a teenager, Mary was active in local 4-H horse clubs, 4-H horse bowl, and showed at the county fair and in many open horse shows. In high school, she owned her first registered Quarter horse gelding. As a senior in high school, Mary took a three hour contracting class at Range Animal Hospital in Ironwood, which eventually led her to a career as a Licensed Veterinary Technician. After graduation from high school, Mary became the unofficial stable manager at Spring Valley Ranch as well as working for Lynn Palm at Royal Palm Ranch in Bessemer, Mich., a job which eventually turned into a full time position in 1989. While working and training with Lynn Palm, Mary accompanied Lynn to horse shows in Florida and clinics and expos across the country, as well as the All American Quarter Horse Congress and World Show. She left Royal Palm Ranch in 1993 and worked full time as a Veterinary Technician at Range Animal Hospital, and obtained her Veterinary Certification in 1995. In 1999 Mary moved to Port Washington, Wis. where she furthered her career as a Licensed Veterinary Technician working for East Town Veterinary Clinic in Mequon, Wis. until the time of her death. Mary was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Port Washington and a former member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood. Her hobbies included ice skating and downhill and cross-country skiing. A horse owner throughout the years, Mary currently owned a Quarter horse gelding whom she showed in the Amateur division of the American Quarter Horse Association, with a special interest in the Hunter classes and Pleasure driving and also in the Hunter-Jumper circuit in southern Wisconsin. Mary was a sincere, dedicated, hard working truly wonderful individual who gave everyone her best and touched the lives of many. She will sadly be missed by relatives, friends and co-workers. We will all take comfort in the thought that The Lord now has the help of one of his most precious angels taking care of his animals in heaven. We will miss you Mary! Surviving are her father and step-mother, Robert and Jeanne Butler, Columbus; aunts, Margaret "Marge" Kmetz, Ironwood, and Cel Zak, Hibbing, Minn.; uncle, James (Anita) Zak, Ironwood; step-sister, Susan R. Moll-George (Michael), and nephew, Mikey George, all of Croton, Ohio; numerous cousins; and many friends, including her dear friend, Tracy Olson of Bessemer. Besides her mother, Mary was preceded in death by her grandparents, Michael and Mary Zak and William and Marie Butler; and two uncles, Joe Kmetz and John Zak. Cremation has taken place. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, Jan. 30, at 11 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Darryl Pepin, celebrant. Luncheon will follow in the parish hall. Rite of Committal and inurnment will take place in the spring in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood. Relatives and friends may call in the St. Joseph Family Room at the church from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund for Mary is being established, with checks payable to the American Quarter Horse Foundation, Equine Research, P.O. Box 32111, Amarillo, TX 79120. To view Mary's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home Inc. of Ironwood. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------