Cue the waterworks.
An 82-year-old man was finally able to retire from his position at Walmart last week thanks to a GoFundMe page that raised over $100,000 to help him.
Butch Marion was working at a Maryland Walmart when one customer, Rory McCarty, started talking to him to learn about his life.
McCarty quickly went viral on TikTok for all of his endearing videos of Marion and decided to create a GoFundMe page to help raise money for the U.S. Navy veteran, with his first video reaching over 3.3 million views.
@bug_boys 82yr old Butch still putting in work. Has anybody seen the videos where a guy raised 180g’s to help an 82 yr old walmart employee retire. We ought to do that for Butch. Who would donate? #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #walmart #gofundme ♬ original sound – BugBoys
“I wanted to help this Navy Veteran to live the remainder of his years traveling to see his kids in Florida,” McCarty wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Get him off his feet for 8 hrs at a time. And do the things he would love to do that he may not be able to for financial reasons.”
Other videos show the men riding ATVs together, attending church, and going out to lunch.
@bug_boys Butch says he hasn’t driven a 4 Wheeler in 30 years #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #foryourpage #fy #fypage #4wd #honda #bugboys #retirement #TikTokWalmartRetiree #walmart ♬ original sound – BugBoys
@bug_boys Butch attended church with me this morning. He’s getting his praise on. Lift him up in prayer please #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #foryourpage #fy #fypage #worship #Jesus #church #salvation #saved ♬ original sound – BugBoys
In one video, the two men go to a restaurant with a woman named Elizabeth Rizzo, who helped an 82-year-old Walmart worker in Arizona named Carmen Kelly retire last month, also through TikTok and GoFundMe.
@bug_boys Elizabeth Rizzo is the 1 who started the other gofundme for Carmen an 82yr old that works for Walmart. Drove up from DC to meet me & Butch @rustywarrenknockersupgal #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #foryourpage #fy #TikTokWalmartRetire ♬ original sound – BugBoys
Marion’s fundraiser, which had an initial goal of $100,000, had reached $124,000 as of Monday morning.
As both men teared up, McCarty presented Marion with a check for $108,682, meaning Marion could now retire.
“I love you, man,” McCarty told Marion.
“How do you thank somebody for something like this,” Marion said emotionally. “It’s almost impossible.”
McCarty has been helping drive Marion around to various news stations and shows for his appearances.
@bug_boys Set those DVR’s. We’re headed to DC. Butch is going to be on Fox News Channel with John Robert’s at 2:40 today #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #foryourpage #fy #fypage #foxnews #dc #newsanchor #news ♬ original sound – BugBoys
According to Fox 5 Washington, the two men said they’ve forged a friendship “that will last for years to come.”
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