Carole Dean Butler

Carole Dean Butler, 79, of Conway, passed away peacefully at Conway Medical Center on August 9th, 2026 surrounded by her family. Born on May 4th, 1947 in Conway, South Carolina, to the late James Sammie Butler and Daisy Dean McCoy Butler, Carole grew up in Conway and graduated from Conway High School in 1965 and continued her education at the Medical College of South Carolina, School of Nursing in Charleston. Carole was a loving, sweet, and cheerful soul whose kindness touched the lives of so many. She had a gentle heart, a warm smile, and a way of making the people around her feel loved and cared for. Her life was defined not by what she received from others, but by the love she so freely gave. For 33 years, Carole was employed by the Medical University of South Carolina, devoting herself to caring for the tiniest and most vulnerable patients as a neonatal nurse. She poured her heart into caring for babies and their families. Each little life she touched mattered to her. Caring for children was more than a career—it was a calling, and she gave that calling her whole heart. Carole's love for children extended far beyond her career. She cared for and nurtured nearly every baby born into her family and among her friends. She was the person people could turn to with a new baby, knowing that she would be there with loving arms, a gentle touch, and the kind of care that came so naturally to her. She delighted in watching those children grow and remained a loving presence in their lives. Carole was deeply devoted to her family and treasured the time they shared together. Holidays, birthdays, family gatherings, and the simple moments spent together became memories she held close. She loved being surrounded by the people who mattered most to her and took great joy in making lasting memories. She also cherished her friendships. Carole had a gift for creating friendships that lasted a lifetime. She formed meaningful connections with people wherever life took her and made an effort to nurture those relationships through the years. Distance and time never diminished the friendships she valued. She stayed connected to people she loved, carrying those friendships with her through every chapter of her life. Many of her friends became like family, and the love and loyalty she shared with them remained constant over the years. She was the kind of friend who cared deeply, remembered the little things, and was always ready with a kind word, a listening ear, or a smile. Carole brought a quiet sweetness to the lives of those around her. Her warmth, compassion, and genuine love for others spoke for her. She left pieces of her heart in countless places—in the families she cared for, in the children she nurtured, in the friendships she treasured, and most of all, in the hearts of her family. Carole is survived by her brother, Keith Butler and sister-in-law Teresa Butler of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina; her nieces, Kathryn Bryn Layne and husband, Doug, of Mebane, North Carolina, and Carole Lee Butler and fiancé, Myles Cooper of Sydney, Australia. Carole was a loving grandmother figure to Cayce Katherine Stalnaker and George Alvin Stalnaker, both of Conway. She also leaves behind three goddaughters, Angela McInnis Wertz of James Island, SC, Kimberly Strobel Brokett of Locust, NC, and Meredith Bates Trobaugh of Columbia, SC, and many cherished friends, extended family members and loved ones who will carry her memory in their hearts. She was deeply loved, she will be forever remembered, and she will always be missed. The love she gave will remain in the stories we tell, the memories we share, and the countless ways she made the world a little kinder and a little brighter simply by being in it. Her legacy will live on in every life she touched. A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered. Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 11, 2026 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel. The family will hold a private memorial service at a later date. Sign an online guestbook at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com Memorial contributions in Carole's honor may be made to the NICU at MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital, c/o the MUSC Foundation, 18 Bee Street, MSC 450, Charleston, SC 29425, or online at MUSC Giving. Goldfinch Funeral Home, Conway Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Tributes

Carole Dean Butler

May 4, 1947 - August 9, 2026