Goodbye my friend, A tribute to Sheriff Fred Armes

To the Editor:

Through life you meet so many people to the point you cannot remember them all but every once in a while you run across one you can never forget, such is the person I am about to tell you about.

In 1991 I moved back to Poplar Bluff after being in the military from 1980 to 1987 then moving back to Texas until 1989 at which time I moved back to St. Louis, my original home town. In 1991 I was able to move back to Poplar Bluff where I decided to settle down and make this my hometown.

While working I was able to become involved with the Poplar Bluff Police Department Reserve Unit and complete the Law Enforcement Academy. While working with the PBPD Reserves I met one individual who really intrigued me to the point I told myself, I would love nothing more than to work for this man. The man I am speaking of is Sheriff Fred Armes.

Still today when I tell people I worked with Sheriff Armes they know I did not work for a man but rather I worked with a man who cared tremendously about not only his staff but every citizen of Butler County. Working with him was not a chore for me but rather an honor and a pleasure to serve under his tenure. He was one that as long as you used common sense in your work he would back you to the hilt, like a bulldog digging his teeth in and not letting go. I admired Sheriff Armes and the way he spoke about Butler County and how hard he worked on making the Butler County Justice Center a reality.

Personally, Sheriff Armes was an individual who cared for your family like it was his own, always asking how everyone was doing. We had a few get togethers at his home and he would open it up to all and make you feel like you were at your own home. If was not always Sheriff Armes but his beautiful wife, Toots was just as pleasant. If I called the house and she answered she could tell if it was personal or if it was business and she responded appropriately. If you had that tone she knew and she would immediately summoned for Sheriff Armes to come to the phone.

As the years passed we grew apart which I have to blame on myself. Sheriff Armes became ill years back and Toots stood right by his side until she passed in June 2009. I am a person who likes to remember people like the last time I seen them. I would get updates every once in a while from his brother, Tommy and it would break my heart to hear the things I did. I could not get myself to pay a visit to see him and for that I am both relieved and ashamed for here is my friend spending his last days and I was too selfish to put myself through it and for that I pray for the lord to forgive me.

Then on June 8th I heard the news that my friend had finally crossed that finish line and no longer was hurting, felt alone or heartbroken for not having Toots by his side, the love of his life he would soon see again.

I want to thank the Armes families for allowing me the honor of working for a man who put his trust in me to work with him and be a direct representative of him. Butler County lost a true ally on June 8th but his memory will live on in Butler County history.

Good-bye my friend, I will miss you.....

Roger Burton