Lincoln County attorney Benjamin Ernest Butts, 63, died Sunday in Oklahoma City.

He was born in Urbana, Missouri on Decenber 24, 1933, to Benjamin Raymond and Opal Stewart Butts.

After serving in the Korean War, he graduated from the University of Missouri with a law degree in 1961 and was admitted to the Oklahoma Bar in 1965. He had been an attorney in Lincoln County for more than 30 years, most recently as a partner in the law firm of Butts and Lenora, Chandler.

He served as judge of the Court of Appeals in 1981-82 and was a past president of the Lincoln County Bar Association, the Chandler Chamber of Commerce, and the Chandler Lion's Club.

Survivors include his wife, Joan, of the home; his son and daughter-in-law, Ben and Jeanie Butts of Oklahoma City; two daughters and sons-in-law, Lynne and Tony Beeson, Tulsa, and Anne and Manny Sanchez, Yukon; two stepsons and stepdaughters-in-law, Allan and Sue Crump, Little Rock, Ark., and Greg and Suzie Crump, Edmond; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Madeline and Richard Bloedau and Elaine and Gale Rycroft, all of Oklahoma City, and June and Jack Carpenter, Stroud; eight grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the First Baptist Church of Chandler. The Rev. Rick Blackwell will officiate.

Burial will be in Oak Park Cemetery, Chandler.

Arrangements are under the direction of Park Brothers Funeral Home. Memorials may be made in care of the Union National Bank of Chandler.