Michael “Mike” John Leander Ecola

Michael “Mike” John Leander Ecola, 54, of Sulphur Springs, Texas, formerly of Butler, took his own life May 5, after suffering many years of diabetes, depression and alcoholism.

He was born Aug. 9, 1962, in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, the son of Leander John Ecola and Kay Ann Ecola Patterson.

He was a graduate of Butler High School and active on the football team. While in high school he worked in the Dietary Department of Butler Memorial Hospital. He later graduated from chiropractic school and most recently practiced in Texas.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing euchre on the Internet and other various card games. He was well loved by those who knew him, particularly his patients many of whom kept in contact with him after he no longer was in practice. He was known for his humor, love of animals and kind manner.

He is survived by his wife, Kari Thormodsgard of Marathon, Fla.; his son, Derek of Sioux Falls, S.D.; his father, Leander Ecola and his wife, Janet, of Orlando, Fla.; his mother, Kay Ann Ecola Patterson and her husband, Thomas, of Cabot; his sister, Karen Scheidhauer and her husband, Phil, of McKinney, Texas; and his brother, Christopher Ecola and his wife, Susan, of New Castle.

He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces.

ECOLA — A memorial for Michael “Mike” John Leander Ecola, who died Thursday, May 5, 2016, will be later in Butler.