Walnut Ridge-Julia Van Butts, 75, passed away Thursday, April 11, 2019 at St Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro. She was born January 31, 1944 in Walnut Ridge to Cornelius and Essie Willeen Rogers Chadister. She married Billy Butts on July 1, 1987 in O'Kean. Julia was a factory worker for many years and worked as a cook at Davy Crockett and the Country Club. She was a member of Old Walnut Ridge Baptist Church in Walnut Ridge. Julia loved hunting, fishing, and family get-togethers.

Julia was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; son, Wade Benton; and step-sister, Linda Wadley.

She is survived by her sons, Nathan Benton of Walnut Ridge and Forest Benton of Las Vegas, Nevada; daughters, Renee Thomen of Walnut Ridge and Roxanne and Ken Kenner of Paragould; half-brother, Charles Chadister of Batesville; sister, Diane Lawrence of Walnut Ridge; aunts, Syble Butts of Walnut Ridge and Bessie McIntire of Jonesboro; grandchildren, Courtney Williams, Jessica Lassiter, Brittany Blair, Craig Bass, Jeff Johnson, Trey Johnson, Derek Benton, Blain Smith, Roger Thomen, and Kyle Kenner; nineteen great-grandchildren; and a dear friend and cousin, Danny Madden.

Visitation will be Monday, April 15, 2019 from 6 until 8 p.m. at Cox Funeral Home Chapel in Walnut Ridge. The Funeral will be Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 2 p.m. with Dennis Truxler officiating. Burial will follow in Lawrence Memorial Park under the direction of Cox Funeral Home in Walnut Ridge.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Brandon Sluder, Brice Sluder, Wayne Yarbrough, Jeff Johnson, Roger Thomen, Jr. and Cody Taylor.

Honorary pallbearers are Chance Williams and Cameron Williams.

The family would like to thank Dr. Rebecca Osborne and associates, St. Bernards Clopton Clinic, Dr. Barry Tedder, Dr. Joshua Morrison, Dr. Ben Owens, Jr., Dr. Jeffrey Cohen, Dr. Mark Sifford, and all of the staff at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center.