Joan J. Butt

Joan Barbara Judycki Butt, 78, of Baton Rouge, La., died Friday, Nov. 28, 2008. A graveside memorial service will be held Saturday, Dec. 6, at 11 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery with the Rev. Don Stansell officiating. She received her bachelor's degree from Roanoke College in Salem. When she moved to Baton Rouge in 1961, she became a longtime member of St. Thomas Catholic Church. A dedicated first-grade teacher at St. Thomas More Catholic School for 36 years, she took great pride and joy in knowing she had played an important role in the academic and spiritual foundation of so many young people over two generations. She delighted in having former students greet her and relate how positively she had affected their lives. She was a loving wife, mother, stepgrandmother, mother-in-law, daughter, sister and friend. Always an avid reader and puzzle solver, she was active in several organizations including her book club, bridge club and Scripture study. She was preceded in death by her parents, Francis and Mary McArdle. Survivors include her beloved husband of 56 years, Herbert "Hal" Butt; a son, David M. Butt, and his wife, Cathy Zielinski Butt; stepgrandchildren, Megan and Jonathan Coney; a brother and sister-in-law, Frank J. and Vera Judycki of Morgan City; two nieces, Anne Chambers and her husband, Mark, of Columbia, Mo., and Joan Barbara Judycki of New Orleans, La.; first cousin, Robert Erler and his wife, Mary, of Bronx, N.Y.; brother-in-law, Thomas E. Butt of Wytheville; sister-in-law, Linda Butt of Wytheville; nieces, Dianne Tolley and her husband, Andrew, Susan Futrelle and her husband, Dan; and nephews, Charles Butt, and his wife, Ashley, and Thomas R. Hunter. Grubb Funeral Home in Wytheville is in charge of the arrangements.