Monty L. Butts (80), of Tulsa, Oklahoma, passed away on January 27, 2024 after a courageous five year battle with cancer. Monty was born to Mylus L. and Iris Butts, on November 10, 1943 in Enid, Oklahoma.

In 1950, Monty and his family moved to Shattuck, Oklahoma where his parents built and operated the Holiday Motel. He graduated from Shattuck High School in 1961, where he played basketball and enjoyed lifeguarding in the summer. After graduating from Oklahoma State University in 1966, he moved to Houston where he began his professional career in the management training program for Foley's Department Store. Monty and Jane met while both were working at Foley's; they married in 1969. In 1972, they moved to Oklahoma City where Monty worked in the municipal bond department at First National Bank. Three years later they moved to Tulsa and Monty went to work for Bank of Oklahoma. In 1988, he began working for Capital Advisors, where he remained an employee until his death. At the start of his tenure at the company, he assumed leadership of a fledgling fixed income department and successfully steered it through asset bubbles and busts, the global financial crisis, a global pandemic, and countless monetary policy experiments that distorted the markets he managed.

Throughout his professional career in Tulsa, Monty was a dedicated volunteer to many organizations. Monty was an early participant of Leadership Tulsa and was the organization's president in 1983-84. He served on the Oklahoma Osteopathic Board as a financial advisor for several years and received the institution's Award of Appreciation in 2000. Monty served on the Board of Governors and Board of Trustees for Oklahoma State University Foundation in many leadership positions for 10 years before being named chairman of the 2007-2008 Board of Trustees. He has been serving on the First National Bank of Broken Arrow board of directors since 2008. In 2010, Monty was one of the founding board members of Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc; he was serving his second 6-year term on the board. He served as the Governance Committee Chair for 12 years, was on the Executive Committee of the board as well as the President/CEO Search Committee. Monty was passionate about the Tulsa Zoo and worked with them for the last 14 years to re-imagine the zoo through their master plan, business plan and multiple strategic plans. Throughout the years Monty and Jane co-chaired several large galas including Winterset Ball, A Stately Affair, and WALTZ on the Wild Side.

Monty's passions included his family, his philanthropic pursuits, his profession, the Sigma Chi Fraternity, and the OSU Cowboys. He was fiercely loyal to them all until his final breath. His steadfast presence will be missed by all who knew him.

Monty is survived by his wife of 54 years, Jane and three children: Tiffany Culver, husband Whit, and children Waite and Emeline; Kimberly Butts; and Matthew Butts, wife Chloe, and children Maxwell, Lily, and Mason. He is also survived by his brother, Jim Butts and family.

Monty's family will host a celebration of life on Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 4:00pm at Tulsa Country Club. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to the Tulsa Zoo or OSU Foundation.