Ashtabula, Ohio - Kellie Renee Butler, 49, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at her home.

Born November 21, 1976 in Ashtabula, she was the daughter of Leon Monroe and Patricia Fae (McGauthiar) Stevens and had been an area resident her entire life.

A 1995 graduate of Ashtabula High School, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Sociology and History from Kent State University in 2007 and her Master of Science Degree in Social Administration from the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University in 2013. She was also a Licensed Independent Social Worker with Training Supervision Designation.

In her youth, Kellie loved to sing, dance, and act. She was active with Ashtabula Arts Center Straw Hat Theater in high school and also did performances at Walnut Beach. She was active in the Girl Scouts. Her trips to perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade while in the high school show choir and her trip to Japan were two of her favorite memories growing up. She was also involved with 4H, AFS, and Model UN.

Kellie met her best friend and the love of her life in 1996. Two years later, they were married. Their partnership across the past 30 years has conclusively proven that true love exists.

Her work spanned several different organizations but always included working with people and helping others. She worked in the retail and banking industries for fifteen years, served as an intern with Catholic Charities and Signature Health, and spent 12 years as a therapist for Community Counseling Center. While at that agency, she created the Access Clinic, coordinating with multiple agencies to provide walk-in services that helped countless people navigate through mental health challenges. She was also an active volunteer with the Ashtabula County Loss Team for many years, supporting families who have experienced a traumatic loss, particularly deaths by suicide and overdose. She spent several years teaching for the Master of Social Work Program at Case Western Reserve University and the Bachelor of Social Work Program at Kent State University. Passing on her wealth of knowledge to social work students was another of her great passions. In December of 2025, she opened her own private practice (As You Wish Counseling) with her husband.

Kellie enjoyed reading and live music, civil rights history, politics, and dedicated her life to the pursuit of social justice. Known as both a peacemaker and tireless advocate, she dedicated much of her clinical work to assisting in mitigating the effects of trauma, as well as supporting and affirming transgender clients and others in the LBGTQ+ community. She was a very active volunteer in President Barack Obama's 2008 and 2012 campaigns. Kellie identified as a Quaker and has attended Ann Arbor Friends Meeting for the past four years.

A true animal lover, Kellie spoiled her beloved dogs, Sage, Ivy, and Coco, and loved them with all her heart.

She will always be remembered for her kindness, wisdom, advocacy, and dedication to her clients, family, and friends.

Her survivors include her husband, Matthew Butler, whom she married July 11, 1998; her mother, Patricia Stevens; her sisters, Shannon Stevens (fiancé Liz Foster) and much-loved AFS Exchange students Gabriele Belavite, Yukari Akahira and her daughter, Ria as well as others; brothers-in-law, Brady Butler and Jose Andres (Megan) Butler; sister-in-law, Emily (Sam Cockrell) Janowick; nieces, Shiloh and Jaden Janowick-Cockrell; and her father- and mother-in-law, Dan and Mary Butler.

She was preceded in death by her father, Leon Stevens; her grandmother, Helen McGauthiar; and her precious dog, Sage.

Calling hours will be observed on Saturday, May 23, 2026 from 1:00PM to 3:30PM at the ZABACK-WILLIAMS-DUCRO FUNERAL HOME, 500 West Prospect Road, Ashtabula with a Celebration of Life to follow at 3:30PM. Margot Finn of the Ann Arbor Friends Meeting will officiate.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the Trevor Project at give.thetrevorproject.org or the Ashtabula County Mental Health and Recovery Services (MHRS) Board at 4717-LL Main Avenue, Ashtabula, OH 44004.

Online condolences can be made at www.ducro.com.