Derecy Jane McCormack was born on July 1, 1812, in Bedford County, West Virginia to Dennis McCormack and Mary Meador.

She married Powell Butler on December 15, 1837, in Monroe, Virginia.  They had 13 children:  Joel, James, Rebecca, Martha, Allen, Malinda, Pascal, Charles, Zachariah, Virginia, Josephine, Sarah, and Mary.

She died on March 13, 1894, in Pipestem, Summers County, West Virginia, having lived a long life of 80 years, 2 months, and 30 days.  She was buried in Butler Cemetery at Hill Top in Pettrey, Summers County, West Virginia.