Jewel Buttry Obituary, Death – In Morris, Illinois on the 30th of October 1943, Jewel Buttry was born to her parents Jewel and Betty Buttry. He graduated from Mazon High School in 1964 and went on to work at the Morris Paper Mill, which was then owned by Quantum/Lyondell. On the 28th of August in 1965, he wed Joyce Mitchell, and the two of them went on to have two daughters: Kim and Pam. Over the course of more than 60 years, Jewel served as a volunteer for a wide variety of organizations and events in Grundy County, and he will be remembered for the significant impact that he had on the community.
The most well-known thing about Jewel is that he is the “Corn Dog King” at Pam’s Corn Dogs. Over the course of the past thirty years, he has assisted innumerable dance families in raising over one million dollars to assist them in offsetting the costs of attending dance competitions, conventions, and excursions. Jewel cherished the opportunity to assist the dance families, as she also enjoyed getting to know each and every one of them and making a positive impact on their lives.
Jewel was particularly enthusiastic about the Grundy County Corn Festival, where he volunteered and worked on the board for over 50 years, ultimately rising to the position of Vice President of the board. Jewel was a man who had many interests and passions in his life. He had a lot of fun organizing that gathering and spending time getting to know the members of the board, the committee, and the merchants over the course of several years.
Due to the many years of devotion that Jewel has provided to the Grundy County community, he was recognized as an Everyday Hero in 2016. The only things he enjoyed more than visiting to Disney World were spending time with his family and traveling with his partner Roberta. Recently, he celebrated his 80th birthday at Disney World with his family. It was a memorable trip.
His companion Roberta Bailey, his daughter Kim Smith (who was formerly married to Jim Smith), his daughter Pam Simpson (who is married to Jeff Simpson), his granddaughter Brittney (Joe) Erickson, his granddaughter Caitlyn Simpson, his grandson Logan Simpson, and his great-granddaughter Louella Erickson are among those who will miss him. His sister Beverly Bailey, his brother-in-law Scott Mitchell, and his sister-in-law Pat (Bob) Koehen, together with his brother David Buttry and his family, also attended the funeral.
In addition to the hundreds of grandkids he had through Forte Arts Center, his extended family also included Roberta’s children Erin (Jonathon) Olson and Amy (Eric) Gillette, as well as his grandchildren Halie, Max, and Hannah Olson. His extended family also included Roberta’s children. He was known by so many as Grandpa Jewel! His parents Jewel and Betty Buttry, his brother Randy Buttry, his wife Joyce Buttry, and his son-in-law Jim Smith all passed away before him. His wife Joyce Buttry also passed away.
On the evening of Wednesday, November 15, 2023, the family will host a visitation for Jewel at the UC Davis-Callahan Funeral Home in Morris from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A memorial service honoring Jewel’s life will be conducted at the funeral home on Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 10:00 am. Pastor Steve Larson will preside over the service. Evergreen Cemetery is going to be the location of Jewel’s burial.
The family would appreciate it if, in lieu of flowers, donations might be sent to a scholarship fund that will be established in Grandpa Jewel’s name. Because of your contribution, his legacy of servant leadership and ensuring that everyone has access to the arts will live on thanks to your support. If you would like to give, kindly indicate that your payment is for the scholarship fund on the back of the envelope, the bottom of the check, or by using the Venmo app.
In his dying days, the Intensive Care Unit at Morris Hospital provided him with great care, and his family would want to express their gratitude to the staff there. An online guestbook has been created for the family, and you are welcome to sign it, as well as share images and memories with one another. You’ll find this information on the website, which may be accessed at www.ucdaviscallahan.com. U.C. Davis-Callahan Funeral Home, located at 301 W. Washington Street in Morris, Illinois, has been given the responsibility of making the necessary arrangements.
