by Lani Reeves and Garth Maier
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
– Jeremiah 29:11
Some guys have all the luck. The funny thing about luck is that it is most often preceeded by a lot of hard work and preparation. When that hard work and preparation runs head on into opportunity, the end result is what many call luck. I call it being blessed, and that’s how this story came about.
As we stood in the newly remodeled living room overlooking the priceless view of the water, Gyce Butler shared with humility as he began to fill me in on how his life had truly come full circle. Born and raised in the small town of Henderson, Texas, the fondness of the people and places around the town of about 14,000 were affectionately imprinted in his memories.
You probably recognize Gyce’s name, as he has been writing “Lessons from the Lake” for LIFE & LAND. His articles have touched on everything from fishing to faith. Gyce is the General Manager of Lowe Tractor & Equipment in Henderson and Tyler. He bleeds Kubota orange and loves his family, friends, and community. Growing up in a Christ-centered home, Gyce developed a servant’s heart, and it is evident in everything he does.
Gyce recalled starting his first job in the Spring of 1995 working for Mr. Cliff Hurt Jr. at Wright-Dyer Drug. With only a learner’s permit, he started delivering prescriptions at the age of fifteen and would later become a certified pharmacy technician. About a year later, Wright-Dyer Drug would merge with Tommy Strong, who owned Strong Pharmacy, to form Strong-Hurt Pharmacy. They moved into Mr. Strong’s building across the square, where it remains today.
Mr. Strong had a long-time coffee club that would meet daily at the pharmacy. Every community in small-town USA has at least one spot where the old timers gather, sit at a table and drink coffee, argue politics, talk cattle prices, and solve a big portion of the world’s problems. The afternoon coffee club at the pharmacy is where Gyce would meet Charles H. Richardson, otherwise known as Mr. Richardson or Charlie. Mr. Richardson and his wife, Reube Gene, were also customers of the pharmacy. Gyce began visiting with Mr. Richardson when he would come into the pharmacy and soon realized they had much in common, and their friendship was cultivated.
Gyce was bitten by the rodeo bug and started roping calves as a sophomore in high school. His first loan was to buy a roping horse. Afternoon conversations with Mr. Richardson revealed Gyce’s love for horses and calf roping. He later invited Gyce out to his farm. There, he showed him a horse barn behind the house that wasn’t being used and offered it to Gyce to stall his horses, and this is where it began. Gyce took Mr. Richardson up on the offer. Throughout the next few years, his love for the property continued to grow as did his love for Mr. Richardson. Mr. Richardson, had been a pilot in the Army Air Corp’s 386 Bomber Squad during World War II. He was very active in local civic and youth programs. Listening to, and learning from him was priceless. The time Gyce spent at the Richardson place tending to his horses and livestock, and fishing in the private 25 acre lake are all small moments in time that have made big memories for Gyce.
By this time in our visit, we had moseyed outside and were standing in front of that very horse barn all these years later. Gyce explained that while still working at the pharmacy, he had gone on to graduate from Henderson High School and used his graduation money as a down payment on a horse trailer. He had a couple of scholarship offers to rodeo, but he didn’t want to leave his friends. After attending Kilgore College for a while, he finished up at Stephen F. Austin University with a degree in Animal Science with a minor in Business. During this time, Gyce and his dad began running cows on the east side of the Richardson property and, as their herd grew, later the west side, which totaled a few hundred acres. At their highest point, they were running cattle on about 1,500 acres across the county.
In June of 2004, Gyce left the pharmacy and began his career at Lowe Tractor & Equipment in Henderson. He was still running cows on the Richardson place, and he and his dad even ended up renting the 1940’s farmhouse on the property to use for Sunday School fellowships and family get togethers. Not only did the time spent there help to develop Gyce’s strong work ethic, but it also strengthened his love for the Richardson property. Mr. Richardson was an engineer by trade, but he enjoyed watching Gyce work the land and treat the property as if it were his own.
It seemed 2004 was just a memorable year. Gyce first laid eyes on his beautiful wife, Ashley, at a church softball game in April. Her church was playing Calvary Baptist Church. Gyce had grown up attending Calvary Baptist and was playing on the softball team that night. Gyce stated, “We met each other quickly before the game started, and from just those few words spoken, I was rocked. After the game, we visited through the rest of the games until they shut the place down. The rest is history!”
Gyce and Ashley were engaged by December and took their engagement pictures near the horse barn on the Richardson place in a field full of white and yellow daffodils. Ashley gazed at the exact spot, “When we were taking those pictures, we never dreamed we would one day be living here. God just has a way of working things out,” she said.
In the spring of 2009, Ashley and Gyce welcomed a little baby girl, Haley. Gyce grinned, “Mr. Richardson was like a grandad to me. So naturally, the first stop on the way home from the hospital was his house to show off our little girl.” She began her social life with a visit to the very farm that she now calls home.
Sadly, Mr. Richardson passed away in 2019 at the age of 97. Gyce explained, “Mr. Richardson’s niece and nephew knew about our relationship, and allowed us to continue using the farm and farm house. They assured me if they ever decided to sell, I would have the first option.” In the fall of 2021, they let Gyce know they planned to sell a portion of the property, including Mr. Richardson’s brick home and the old farmhouse. After much prayer, Ashley and Gyce decided to buy it.
In May of 2022, Ashley and Gyce sold what they thought was their forever home in town and purchased the farm. Over twenty years after first setting foot on the place, this beautiful piece of property he once rented now belonged to him. Gyce may have loved the property first, but now Ashley and Haley have grown to love the farm just as much. The beauty of the lush green pastures, and the relaxing peace and serenity of cattle grazing near the lake make for the Butler’s little piece of heaven on earth. Whether it is roping a calf dummy, feeding the cattle, riding ATVs, or catching a few bass or crappie, Gyce can depend on his girls to be right by his side, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
They moved into the small 1940s-built farmhouse they had rented years earlier and had their contractor, Lannie Wilcox, start on the renovations of Mr. Richardson’s brick house which was built in the 50s.
Gyce said, “Not a wall we didn’t touch. One option was to tear it down and build a new one in its place. Couldn’t do it. We wanted to build on the memories we had there. We didn’t want to try to replace it.” Ashley put her own touch on the renovations and updated the 1950s home into their own beautiful style. Making the design work for their family and church fellowships was important to the Butlers. They were able to bring the old house into the twenty-first century and flawlessly fit their lifestyle of serving others and sharing their blessings.
Gyce soon began rejuvenating the pastures and fencing, and doing what he could to improve the property. He and “his girls”’ which he affectionately calls Ashley and Haley, also began a stringent lake management program. Following the advice of biologists, the Butlers are hoping to grow trophy bass. A biologist recently told me. “Anybody can have a hole of water with some fish in it, but it takes a strong commitment to grow trophies.” With the house renovations completed, they finally made the move across the lake into their beautiful newly renovated home in the summer of 2023. They explained, “We want to use our farm to entertain and host other people. We wanted to make sure we honor the Richardsons, and their niece and nephew.”
Ashley and Gyce believe strongly in being good stewards of the blessings they have acquired. They often have gatherings at the farm for their friends and church family. “Kid’s Fishing Day has been a big hit with the kiddos,” Gyce explained. “Hearing those kids scream, ‘I Got One!’ as they reel in those fish is what it’s all about.” The best things in life are the people we love, the places we spend our time, and the memories we make along the way.
“Just to think I’m laying down my head each night where he did. I never dreamed we would own this place, but we will live out here as long as the Lord allows us to,” Gyce said humbly. “Whatever you do, men, try to lead your life and your family in such a way that is pleasing to the Lord.” The only possible reply to that statement is, “Amen.”
