James Michael Botter

James Michael “Mike” Botter of Kilgore went home to spend eternity with his Lord and Savior on October 14, 2022, after a courageous and hard-fought battle against cancer.

Mike was born September 28, 1948, in LaGrande Oregon to his parents John and Roxie Botter who relocated shortly after to Alta Loma Texas where he spent his childhood. He attended Santa Fe High School where he was loved by all who knew him, was voted Mr. Santa Fe, and lettered in multiple sports including track, basketball, baseball, and football. After High School, Mike went on to play college football on a full scholarship at the University of Texas at Arlington where he was star defensive lineman and made many lifelong friends while earning his BBA. 

During Mikes last year of college, on a fateful visit home to see friends and family, he met and fell head over heels for the love of his life, Bunnye Worthington Botter. Mike and Bunnye exchanged vows on June 29, 1973 and made their home in Alta Loma while starting a family together with the birth of their three children Casi, Casey, and Chandi. 

Mike was a Jack of all trades and master of most and had the unique ability of being able to build or fix anything. These skills led him to managing a large industrial company which transferred him and his family to Kilgore where he spent the remainder of his life and went on to start and run his own company for many years before retirement. In his free time, Mike enjoyed spending quality time with his beautiful bride of 49 years, being the best daddy and role model to his three children and being the greatest gramps ever to his seven grandchildren whom he adored with every bit of his being.

Mike enjoyed family vacations, spending time on his tractor tending to his land, cooking for those he loved, relaxing in his easy chair watching most all sports, especially baseball and football…and when feeling a little jumpy, going bear huntin’ with a switch. Mike was a kind, loving, and generous human being who mentored many in life and never met a stranger. He was a funny man with a great sense of humor who kept his family close and laughing until his final hour. He was all things good in this world who found the light and joy in any situation and to know Mike was to love him. 

Mike is preceded in death by his parents John and Roxie Botter and mother and father-in-law JD and Bettye Worthington.

Those left to cherish his memories are his beloved wife Bunnye Botter, daughter Casi and husband Darrell Neumeyer of Hurst TX, son Casey and wife Melissa Botter of Jacksonville FL, daughter Chandi and husband Peter Langelier of North Richland Hills TX and seven grandchildren Chloē and Drake Neumeyer, Averi, Marlee, and Judson Botter, and Trent and Ty Langelier, his sister Diana Kovar and husband Stanley, sister Margaret Bowling and numerous nieces and nephews. 

**There will be a gathering to celebrate Mikes life at a time and place to be determined. The family would like to thank all of our friends for your kind words and prayers.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James Michael Botter, please visit our floral store.