Lawrence "Butch" Geels of Scranton, Arkansas, passed away Monday, June 12, 2023, at Greenhurst Nursing Center in Charleston, Arkansas. He was born on January 24, 1939, in Morrison Bluff, Arkansas, to the late George Geels and Crescence (Wewers) Geels. He was 84 years old. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Theresa Geels, Ernestine Ahrns and Betsy Schluterman; and four brothers, Leo Geels, Bill Geels, Ray Geels and Bon Geels.

Butch was a dairy farmer from 1964 to 1986. Cows were his life, from raising, milking, showing, winning many county and state awards, and selling registered Holstein breeding stock, to A.I. Breeding and Embryo Transfers. He served on the AMPI Board, the DHIA Board, Farm Bureau Board, and secretary of the Arkansas Holstein Association. For nine years, Butch was farm manager at Subiaco Abbey and helped start the first registered Black Angus herd at the Abbey farm. He served in the Arkansas National Guard and also worked for Cloyes Gear for ten years. He served as a 4-H leader, taught religious classes and was a Catholic Youth Organization Sponsor. Butch was director of the music ministry and faithful member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Morrison Bluff. He loved his Lord, family, and community, and especially his animals. Butch will be missed by all who knew him.

Rosary service will be held at 7:45 p.m., Friday, June 16th at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Subiaco, with Fr. John Miranda officiating.

Funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 17th at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Morrison Bluff, with Fr. John Miranda officiating. Burial will follow at Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery, under the direction of Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home in Paris.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary Ann (Hug) Geels; two sons, Patrick Geels and wife Debra of Fort Smith and Gregory Geels and wife Susan of Clarksville; a daughter, Molly Zimmer of Charleston; a brother, Cletus Geels of Scranton; eight grandchildren, Alisha Geels, Emily Geels, Madeline Geels, Joshua Zimmer, Jacob Geels, Caleb Geels, Daniel Geels, and Nathan Zimmer; and one great-grandchild on the way.

Pallbearers will be his grandchildren.

To place an online tribute, please visit www.brothertonbrothersfuneralhomes.com.