Stephen Butts

Former Aspen resident and long-time Telluride local Stephen Butts, 48, died tragically Tuesday, Jan. 18, from injuries sustained in an avalanche while heli-skiing in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia. Steve was with many of his closest friends when the accident occurred.An avid outdoorsman, golfer, sailor and expert skier, Steve passed into the next world doing what he loved – powder skiing with friends in the Canadian Rockies. He was a fantastic pilot who loved to burn jet A fuel.As founder and owner/broker of Telluride Properties Inc., Steve will always be remembered for his uncompromising commitment to quality in everything he did. He was a savvy entrepreneur and one of the driving forces behind putting Telluride on the map in the luxury real estate world.Steve spent much of his time traveling the world with friends and family. He enjoyed the finest in everything life offered, and shared this passion with all who crossed his path. Above all else, Steve was a passionate family man. He leaves behind his two beautiful daughters, Kailee and Caroline, who were his greatest pride; his former wife, Heidi Winslow; his loving best friend and partner, Amy Taylor; and all of Telluride. His father M. Parker Butts preceded Steve in death. He is also survived by his mother, Joan Foster Butts; his aunt Jacqueline Foster; his sister and brother-in-law, Martha and Gerard Hoar, and their children, Emily and Lindsay, all from New England, as well as hundreds of friends throughout the world.A service was held Sunday in Telluride. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Stephen Butts Memorial Fund c/o The Telluride Foundation, 620 Mountain Village Blvd. Suite 2B, Telluride, CO, 81435.