HENRY C. BUTTERY

LLANO - Henry C. Buttery, 80, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004, at his home in Llano, Texas, following a courageous 12-year battle with prostate cancer. Henry was born on Sept. 27, 1924, to Bessie (Atkins) and Henry C. Buttery in Austin, Texas. He resided in Llano all of his life except for the period when he joined the Marine Corps after finishing high school during World War II. The Marine Corps first sent him to Texas AandM where he attended one year. He then was transferred to Georgia Tech University and graduated from there in February 1945 with a mechanical engineering degree. While at Texas AandM and Georgia Tech he ran track, lettering at Georgia Tech. After graduating, he reported to officer candidate school at Quantico, Va. During that time the atomic bomb was dropped and the war was over. He came home in 1945 with the rank of captain. The following spring he went to work for Wheland Co. in Chattanooga, Tenn., and was there approximately 1years. When his father's health began to fail, he returned to Llano on Jan. 1, 1948, to help him at Buttery Hardware. While living in Llano he met Norma Lee Wasserman, and they were married on Feb. 18, 1951. Shortly after their marriage, he returned to active duty due to the Korean Conflict. Norma and their first child later joined him when he was stationed in North Carolina. Their marriage produced four children and lasted 53 years until Norma's death on Feb. 16, 2004. Henry and his family returned to Llano in 1953. During the following years he grew his wholesale hardware business from five employees to approximately 165 with his business covering Texas and reaching into Oklahoma and New Mexico. He still managed to find time to contribute much to the community of Llano and received many awards, including Masonic Community Builder Award, Llano Outstanding Citizen Award, The Hall of Fame Award and the Humanitarian Award. He served as president of the Jaycees and the Chamber of Commerce and was a 50-plus year member of the Lions Club. He had an instrumental hand in creating the Llano Memorial Hospital and later served as chairman of the board. Henry also was important in creating and financing the Llano Community Center, and he donated the property for the present-day Llano County Library. He helped bring the first Savings and Loan to Llano and served as its president for the first 10 years of its existence. He also served for several years as chairman of the board of the Llano National Bank. Church was very important to Henry, and he was a 69-year member of the Lutie Watkins Memorial United Methodist Church. He especially was proud of his Sunday School Class. Henry was a very respected man for both his morals and the examples he set. When he became involved in a cause, he gave it his all. His opinions and ideas were highly valued and sought out by both family and community. He was a very wise and kind man and will be missed by many. Survivors include daughters Brenda Durst and husband Dusty of Llano and Jean Wallace and husband Harold of Edmond, Okla.; sons William Buttery and wife Becky of Llano and John Buttery and wife Angela of Llano; sister-in-law Anna Shipp and husband Bill of Llano; six grandchildren, Travis and Troy Allen, Kristin and Michael Wallace, Andrew and Heath Buttery; and one niece Karla Van Item of Llano. Service will be at 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, at the Lutie Watkins Memorial United Methodist Church in Llano. A graveside service will follow in the Llano City Cemetery. Officiating will be the Rev. David Griffin. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Llano Memorial Hospital, Lutie Watkins Memorial United Methodist Church or M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.