08/01/2024
Well this is a shock my father-in-law (Big Allen Butler dad) passed away unexpectedly Monday. It is a tragedy, but let me explain his life as a daughter-in-law saw him.
He was the best extra dad I could ask for, Really! When you love someone and get to our age you pray each night for your parents/kids grand parents to not suffer, as they get older and not be lonely. And if possible hit the “lottery” in death and just die doing what they love or in their sleep. Well he did just that, to know him better I’ll share the way he treated us.
Joe Ben or Papa told me when I had his first grand kid he was had no idea what to do with a baby and I said well that makes two of us. Both of us had big eyes and were full of panic. But he came over every afternoon and rocked little a so I could get whatever I wanted to do done. And I had his second grandchild. He did the exact same thing he changed diapers he made bottles we both went into it headfirst. And
I like to say “I love you” to all my family and friends and he was set back by that but after the grandkids he would not hang up the phone or leave without saying I love yall and a hug.
As time passed I learned he was a type of person that was always on time, but never Expected me to be super early. I watched him take pride in his business Butler LP gas, and I helped him paint them tanks. He would always pitch in to help us and vice versa. His wish was for his family to take over that business, but it was not in the plans for our family to take that business over. And unfortunately, his youngest son, Jody fell victim to alcoholism. And I watched a parent, papa Joe Ben, suffer through watching a child, his son Jody, slip away and eventually die from alcohol abuse. And then struggle to make daily business operations happen. God answered all of our prayers when a family member that he loves wanted to purchase his business. I told my husband Allen that that was the Lord‘s plan all along and this was amazing to see this work out, so Joe Ben sold his business to Angela and Mark and Gus Warren, which are his nieces and nephews and they have just been the perfect fit. This allowed Pap to retire but also watch his business move on and not just fizzle away.
Papa Joe Ben Said he had lived his whole life to have enough time in the day to just be able to take his grandchild to school in the morning. See it wasn’t a chore to do or a task to be asked, for it was a win for him. And he loves classic cars and with the sale of his business and the sale of a piece of property that finally came through with the help of his oldest son my husband, Allen, he was able to purchase any car he ever wanted. Papa was a shopper and liked to shop for his perfect Chevy car. A red 55 Chevy! He toted that car in a brand new car trailer (with enough add ons that doubled the price of the trailer -lol) to the Mt pilot car shows in NC. And at the last show that car took the whole show. That Chevy, it was an off frame completely restored car. So many people don’t drive their car but here and there. But his grandchild Suzanna absolutely loves classic cars and anything that goes fast. He would drive her to school in that thing any day she wanted to. And she was allowed to drive around town with him in the passenger seat, dodging the law man because she is only 12 years old. She has driven every back road from his house to Andy Mcclure’s shop on Main Street.
So hitting the lottery in death can be explained like this. Joe Ben loved to Cut Grass . It was his passion. He was finishing up Bushhogging around his grandson, Allen‘s house. He saw his extra niece Bailee at the barn and stopped by and talk to her for a while and said he was done with his chores. He was going to the house. He went to his house, changed his clothes his niece, Angela Had put lunch out for him. He had put that away. He had called his brother to check in said no big deal. Just checking in. Then he had walked outside to get something done and was found by his family in his tricked out ranch truck. You see Papa got a tie up all the loose ends and see it for himself. He was not lonely because his family that lived on his road would provide him meals, visit him, call him, and go with him to car shows and anywhere else. His Grandchildren he saw every day and made sure before we left on any trip to come over and hug us goodbye. He was game to do almost anything and he deserved to just up and die. God is good all the time. We knew he loved us and he knew we loved him. It is a blessing to hear from all of the people who knew and loved him. Tomorrow at the setting up will be hard, we will cry with you and brave the crowds. Please especially prop up big Allen, my husband, (Bog Allen’s dad) he already carried the world on His shoulders and he and papa had gotten close these last few years. Please come and say your farewells to ol papa Joe Ben. I predict it will be a good one, just like he was.
https://www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com/obituary/JoeBen-Butler?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1NVxzSi6Gxa7Bsq3u8pZ33NjCStobEJruL-MbkfsEvvLxii7DZriWy3zg_aem_cCi6Hx0FXj-hf0e8UjRxtg
Share memories & support the family
