Darlene Emily “Butch” Gilstrap

Darlene Emily “Butch” Gilstrap, 81, of Gonzales passed away Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. Butch was born April 15, 1934 in Granger to Joe Mikulencak and Millie Kotrola Mikulencak. Butch graduated from Granger High School with the Class of 1952 and graduated from the Nixon Clay Business School in 1954. 

She married Clarence Ragsdale “Rags” Gilstrap on Sept. 18, 1952 in Granger. She was a member of Eastside Baptist Church and the Odds and Ends Sunday school class.    

Butch truly had a green thumb and she loved to work in her garden, she was absolutely intolerant of weeds and she would spend whatever time it took pulling them. Butch canned and stored her garden produce. 

She enjoyed fishing the flats along the gulf coast and genuinely loved all outdoor sports including hunting where she was known to be a very proficient markswoman.

Butch was quiet, loving, forgiving, and patient and at the same time she was a very strong woman.  She loved working in her church and had served as the church pianist and treasurer in some of the churches she had belonged too. She enjoyed singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school and helping in the church kitchen.

Darlene Emily “Butch” Gilstrap is survived by her loving husband of 63 years C.R. “Rags” Gilstrap of Gonzales; daughter, Helen Lenee Gilstrap of Gonzales; sisters, Jo Ann Mikulencak of New Berry, Calif., Janette Overfelt and her husband Larry of Austin; nephews, Ryan Overfelt of San Marcos and Lyle Overfelt of Buda and many dear and loved extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday evening at Seydler-Hill Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13 at Eastside Baptist Church with Rev. Gene Wilson officiating. Honorary pallbearers are her Odds and Ends Sunday school class. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the church or charity of one’s choice.  

Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.