By Staff
BESSEMER CITY — Josiah Miller “Joe” Butler, 79, died April 20, 2008, at Gaston Memorial Hospital, Gastonia. He was born October 25, 1928, in Bertie County, NC to John Graham and Mattie Lee Butler.
Funeral service: 11 a.m. Wednesday at Sisk-Butler Funeral Home, Bessemer City.
Visitation: 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Sisk-Butler Funeral Home, Bessemer City.
Interment: Bessemer City Memorial Cemetery with full military rites by the Bessemer City American Legion Post 243 Honor Guard.
Joe was a graduate of Elizabeth City High School, Class of 1949 and Western Carolina University, Class of 1957, and also from Louisville Mortuary School in Kentucky in 1965 where he was president of his class. He taught at Dallas and Lowell High Schools for several years. Joe was a funeral director and former co-owner and operator of Sisk-Butler Funeral Home in Bessemer City. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Bessemer City where he served as Deacon and Sunday School Superintendent. Joe was past president of the Optimist Club in Bessemer City and was responsible for the development of the city athletic fields. He was a past member of Gaston County Parks and Recreation Committee where he was instrumental in the developing of Biggerstaff Park in Dallas. Joe served in Korea with the United States Army and was a member of the American Legion Post 243 in Bessemer City.
Survivors: wife: Ann Sawyer Butler of the home; son: Frank Butler and wife Denise of Bessemer City, daughter: Mary Jo Berry and husband Dr. Wallace Berry of Auburn, Al; brother: Jim Butler and wife Addie Mae of Whitakers, NC; sister: Ruby Lee of Plymouth, NC; granddaughters: Jada Butler of Kings Mountain, Jodi Butler of Daytona Beach, Fl; great-granddaughters: Alle and Kadi Hunter of Kings Mountain.
Preceded in death by: first wife: Mary Jane Sisk Butler; brothers: John G. and Charles Butler; sisters: Margaret Stager, Virgie Elliott, Alice DeLorenzo.
Officiating clergy: Dr. Charles Brawley, Rev. A.A. Bailey.
Memorials: First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 397, Bessemer City, NC 28016. To offer condolences, please visit www.siskbutler.com.
Arrangements: Sisk-Butler Funeral Home, Bessemer City.
Paid Obituary