Mary D. Butcher, age 94 and lifelong resident of Sugar Creek Township in Clinton County, went to be with the Lord on Saturday afternoon, September 15, 2018. Born May 22, 1924 near Pickard, she was the daughter of the late George V. and LaVonne (Foulke) Ploughe. Mary passed away, surrounded by her loving family, at Wellbrooke of Westfield where she had been spending the summer.
Mary started her early school days attending Sugar Creek School, however, while she was temporarily residing with her grandparents on the Foulke side, she completed school at Sheridan with the Class of 1942. After graduation, she would continue forward with her education at Indiana Business College in Indianapolis. Upon completion of her college years, Mary returned to Sugar Creek Township to begin what would become her life’s journey.
She started farming with her parents, however, World War II was still a couple of years from being over, and it was during those years that she started driving a school bus route as well. After the war, Mary started farming with her husband Oscar and would continue to do so for nearly 70 years. With an amazing work ethic, Mary ran the farm like only she could. She operated their dairy, raised the garden, as well as the chickens, and most importantly, managed the checkbook. Mary had a passion for farming but also considered herself a naturalist, having a deep love of both the outdoors and animals. Although she briefly worked for The Farmers Bank in Kirklin, her heart and soul were always on the farm.
Mary was also and avid reader and a foodie. She collected cookbooks, mostly to find new and interesting recipes that she could share with her family and friends at church. From those cookbooks, and possibly from her secret recipe card box, came many, many, many signature dishes that will be truly missed. There was one other activity that Mary loved, and that was going to garage sales while wintering in Florida. Somehow all of her “treasures” always found their way back home to Indiana, leading everyone to wonder how come twice as much stuff always came back than ever went down there in the first place.
Mary was a member of Hills Baptist Church, where she was active in the Women’s Circle. She was also a member of the Kirklin Order of Eastern Star, the Sugar Creek Home Ec Club, and the Johnson Township / Sugar Creek farm wives’ Bridge Club.
Mary is survived by her 2 sons, Morris G. Butcher (Betty) and Mark A. Butcher (Sherie), both of rural Kirklin; her daughter, Glenda J. Frey (Garry) of rural Frankfort; 6 grandchildren, Brian Butcher, Brent Butcher (Linda), Stacey Viars (Matt), Heather Waddelow (Kent), Laura Greathouse (Mark), and Libby Frey (Scott Satterthwaite); 10 great grandchildren, Aubrey Waddelow and Evan Waddelow, Adison Viars, Carly Viars, Jocelyn Viars, Mariana Greathouse, Liliana Greathouse, Oscar Satterthwaite, Gavaghan Satterthwaite, and Samuel Butcher; and by her sister, Patty Barnett of Frankfort. Mary is also survived by her 4-legged BFF, Roxy.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother in law, Richard Barnett, and by the love of her life, her husband Oscar Morris Butcher on November 10, 2012. She and Oscar were married on May 22, 1942, spending nearly 70 years side by side creating a wonderful legacy of family and farming.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 20, 2018 at Kercheval Funeral Home, 306 E. 10th Street, Sheridan, Indiana. Burial will follow at Green Lawn Cemetery in Frankfort. Pastor Charles Cole will be officiating. Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at Kercheval Funeral Home in Sheridan.
Memorial contributions may be presented to Hills Baptist Church.