In today’s local news Dominick Smith the owner of Electric City Tattoo and Body Art in Butler is reaching out to the community of Butler to help endorse the following fundraiser for a former Butler resident in need. We thank Electric City Ink for promoting this endeavor.
Brandi Ortega Lopez, formerly Brandi
DuCharme, grew up in Butler, Missouri, where she attended
school, played volleyball, and even served as Boomer the Bear, the school
mascot! She made many friends throughout the community and may
be remembered by former classmates, coworkers, and neighbors.
During her years in Butler, Brandi worked at several local
businesses, including Sonic, Pizza Hut, and Medical Lodge.
She also spent time picking tomatoes for a local farmer along Highway
71.
Brandi's life took a difficult turn in ninth grade when her
father was involved in a serious car accident that left him in a coma for three
months. She made the decision to leave school to help care for him, eventually
helping him rebuild his strength and learn to walk again.
After marrying and moving away from Butler, Brandi
continued working hard, holding a job at a Kansas trash company and working as
a machinist at Grahamview and as a material handler. She later attended college
to study personal training.
Despite never completing high school, Brandi went on to
establish Marry Pottin's Supply LLC, dedicating herself to
helping people dealing with pain, depression, cancer, and other challenges
through cannabis education and CBD/THC products.
Her passion for agriculture and helping others led Brandi
to become a pioneer in Missouri's hemp industry. She reports being the first
person in Missouri to establish an indoor hemp-growing operation, as well as
the state's first female hemp farmer. Her involvement in the hemp industry
opened the door to further opportunities, including serving as a Missouri
chapter leader for the National Women in Agriculture Association.
She has also participated in podcasts with the USDA and founded a children's
gardening club in Archie, Missouri, called Marry Pottin's Misfits,
sharing her love of gardening and agriculture with the next generation.
Brandi a former Butler Resident is also the proud mother of
two children, Hannah, 22, and Dayne, 18.
Today, Brandi is battling Glioblastoma, an aggressive
form of brain cancer. On November 7, 2026, friends and
supporters are hosting Rockin' for Brandi: A Community Rockabilly Dinner
& Dance Fundraiser in Raymore, Missouri, to help with the
costs of the treatment options she is pursuing. This event will be held at The
Raymore Hall at 19100 South State Route J in Raymore.
Those hosting the fundraiser is hoping to reconnect with anyone in the Butler
community who remembers Brandi DuCharme — whether from
school, volleyball, her days as Boomer the Bear, Sonic, Pizza Hut, Medical
Lodge, working along Highway 71, or simply growing up together.
If you remember Brandi, they would love for you to reconnect and help spread the
word!
Thank you Dominick Smith at Electric
City Ink for supporting the advertising and local news releases on behalf of
Brandi . look for a Tattoo donation on the auction block during the dinner and
dance.
For Event Tickets search: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/rockinforbrandi/2417703
To place Donations see : http://spot.fund/63dq5nvsc
These links may be found on the 921news now Facebook page.
