Lawson Ray "Butch" Niles

Lawson Ray (Butch) Niles, of Raleigh, NC, affectionately called “Pop” by his four grandchildren, passed away on September 28, 2022 at the age of 81. Originally from Temple, TX, and always a Texan at heart, he moved to Smithfield, NC in 1958. Although he graduated from Smithfield High School in 1959, he remained close with his Temple classmates and attended many milestone reunions. 

Butch began his higher education at NC State, majoring in electrical engineering, but graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a degree in Business Administration.  After a brief career in the banking industry, he returned to UNC where he obtained his law degree in 1972. He was in private practice in Chapel Hill, but moved to North Wilkesboro in 1979 as corporate council for Northwestern Bank.  He never really left his Tarheels, and remained an avid fan for life.  Through the normal course of banking mergers and acquisitions, he then moved to Whiteville and later Winston Salem, where he retired in 2001.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Butch loved to hunt quail, train, and work with his prized bird dogs.  It also provided him the time to spend hours with good friends.  Butch also really enjoyed playing golf, although his love of the game might have slightly exceeded his talent for it.  But perhaps his biggest passion was music, especially country.  As a young boy, he performed on a local radio program, and even had the opportunity to sing with the legendary Johnny Cash. Butch was a heck of a guitar player.  Some of his biggest influences were Hank Williams, Sr., Doc Watson, Merle Haggard, and Elvis.  While he was a gifted guitar player, his clear tenor voice was his truest gift, and a gift to everyone who knew him.  He was the go-to family and friend wedding singer, and the first to join in when the music started at a party.  What we only just discovered was that he was a songwriter as well.  Here is an excerpt from the lyrics of a song buried in his bedside table:

Out west among the foothills, in the state of North Caroline;
Nestled in the valley, where the peaceful river winds;
Lies the land that I call home, the land of my dreams,
The place where I was born and raised, amongst beautiful mountain streams…

With my wife and my children, and this land to make life good;
I’m staying right here, where I belong, mong’st the mountains, streams, and woods.
Right here in old Wilkes County, where life is filled with grace;
And every evening at sunset, I know God has shown his face.

Above all, his love for his family is what drove every decision he made in his life.  His girls saw a different side of their father the day he became Pop.  He is predeceased by his father, Loyd Dart Niles, mother, Fannie Mae Lawson Niles, sister, June Holt, and brother, Charles Niles.  He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Suzanne Hales Niles, daughters Tracy Latvala (Bob), Jennifer Turnage (Jamie), grandchildren Ally & Joshua Latvala and Andrew & Chloe Turnage, daughter at heart Victoria Moore, and many loving nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his memory to the American Heart Association or Transitions LifeCare of Wake County. A private service will be held for the family.