Obituary of Donald Leverett Butland

The family of Donald “Donnie” Leverett Butland sadly announces his passing on Friday April 17, 2026. Donald was born in Ontario on September 6, 1955 to Shirley (Butland) Martell and Raymond Martin. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer in January of this year and in recent weeks he developed a very aggressive bone cancer that he could not fight.

Donnie began work at the young age of 15 at Wayside Industries. He then joined the Labours Union, and that took him to jobs from New Brunswick to Ontario and finally back to Fredericton where he settled and made the city his home. He had a few relationships over the years, but marriage and children were never his plan. Instead, Donnie was a member of a very large church congregation, and with his church family there to support him, he was baptized in the summer of 2025.

He will be sadly missed by his devoted brothers, Mike (Shelly) of Saint John NB, David Martin (Kim) Peterborough ON; many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and -nephews, as well as close friends in his community and at church.

In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his sisters, Debbie Jean Martin and Cindy Butland, and his niece, Deidra Martin.

The family would like to extend very special thank-you’s to the entire health care team of the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital; to Pastors Gary Gallant and Joe Crummey, as well as friends Linda McNickle and Merlin. It was such a comfort to his brother Mike to know that someone was there in the times he had to be absent. Your love and friendships to Donnie meant everything to him. Thank You to Nurse April in Palliative care Unit for being by Donnie's side at the time of his passing. We will be forever grateful.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Christ Central Church, 140 Clark St., Fredericton NB on Sunday, April 26, 2026, beginning at 3:00 pm. Donnie's final resting place will be in Saint John NB at St. Joseph's Cemetery alongside his family members, with interment to take place at a later date. For those who wish, memorial donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Society, or a charity of the donor's choice.