Mary Jo Butts

Mary Jo (Roberts) Butts, 82, of Brazil, passed away at home, surrounded by her family, on April 12, 2018 following a brief illness.

Mary Jo was born on Aug. 13, 1935, in Terre Haute, the daughter of Everett and Norma (Kight) Roberts.

Mary Jo graduated from Glenn High School in 1953 and attended St. Anthony School of Nursing.

On Aug. 13, 1955, she married the love of her life, Virgil Wayne Butts. They celebrated more than 60 years together before he passed away in 2016.

She has been very active over the years as a member of Berea Christian Church and the Crusader's Sunday school class.

She worked very hard along the side of her husband in their businesses -- Butts' Enterprises and then later Butts' Auction and Realty. She obtained her Indiana Real Estate license in the 1960s.

At the young age of 49, she earned her bachelor's degree in journalism from ISU. For several years, she worked for the Terre Haute Tribune, and then the Brazil Times, while still assisting Virgil in their business. They loved attending state and national auctioneer conferences for continuing education, and had made hundreds of lifelong friends all over the United States.

Mary Jo served as president of the Indiana and National Auctioneer Association Auxiliary and was inducted into the Indiana Auctioneer Association Auxiliary Hall of Fame in 2004 and National Auctioneer Association Auxiliary Hall of Fame in 2006.

Mary Jo was an excellent seamstress and in the 1960s and '70s entered the Homemakers Fashion Shows and the Make--It--With--Wool contests for several years. She won high honors in both contests.

Mary Jo has been a member of the 7:30 Homemaker's Club and Lucky Ladies Homemaker's Club, Tri-Kappa, and just celebrated 15 years in the Red Hat Society, where she loved going out with the ladies and wearing her purple and red attire.

For more than 30 years, they loved wintering at their home in Cape Coral, Fla. Mary Jo loved entertaining with dinner parties for her family and friends. She also spent countless hours volunteering with various groups within the community.

Mary Jo was preceded in death by her parents, Everett and Norma Roberts; her husband, Virgil Butts; her sister-in--law, Monique Roberts, and sister and brother-in-law Louise and Hubert Fagg.

She is survived by her son, Jerry Butts and wife Elizabeth of Greencastle; daughters Debi Sullivan (Dale Bohnenkemper) of Terre Haute and Susan Treash and husband Bob Sr. of Brazil; grandchildren Shawna Perez, Tyler Butts (Emily), Courtney Morgan, Lucas Morgan (Sarah), Michael Sullivan (Gabriella), Haylee Nelson (Christopher), Justin Barrett (Jenny Pickett), Jordan Thompson (Kyle), Anita Conway (Gene Sharp) and Bob Treash, Jr. (Jamie); great-grandchildren Lexi Hardey, Caleb Jones, Zach Morgan , Kendall Courtright, Grady Courtright, Benjamin Perez, Andrew Morgan, Samantha Morgan, Matthew Nelson, Zoee Nelson, Liam Nelson, Marcus Nelson, Nolan Sullivan, Addison Sullivan, Reagan Thompson, Rhett Thompson, Sean Conway, Josh Conway, Zac Treash and Tori Treash; siblings Dan Roberts of Reading, Pa., and Dick Roberts (Lois) of Fort Myers, Fla., as well as several nieces, nephews and extended family members and friends.

Visitation will be at Lawson -- Miller Chapel, 1702 E. National Ave., Brazil, on Wednesday, April 18 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

A celebration of life will be conducted at the funeral home at 2 p.m. Wednesday with Pastor Tom Hess officiating. Burial will follow at Clearview Cemetery.

Visit www.lawson-millerchapel.com to light a candle in her memory.