Jo Ann Hanselman Butler

Mrs. Jo Ann Butler, 70, of Shuqualak, MS passed away Sunday, February 5, 2017 at University Medical Center in Jackson, MS. A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. at Butler Pentecostal Church near Macon, MS. A visitation will be held following the service until 4 p.m. in the fellowship hall of the church. Memorials may be made to Blair Batson Children’s Hospital, 2500 N State St., Jackson, MS 39216 or St. Jude Children Hospital, 252 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Jo Ann Hanselman Butler was born in Victoria, Texas on January 29, 1947 as the youngest of three children to the late Leo Otto and Meta Jackson Hanselman. As a young person she enjoyed horses and rodeos. She graduated from Victoria High School and in 1965 she met and married Larry Butler of Shuqualak, MS. On this past December 22nd, they celebrated their fifty-first wedding anniversary. They made their home in San Marcos and Waco Texas and were blessed with three children. In 1971, they moved to Shuqualak, Mississippi where they made their home for the rest of her life. She and her family attended Shuqualak United Methodist Church.

Jo Ann was a true homemaker who took great pride in raising her family. She enjoyed helping her husband out when she could and could often be seen riding the lawnmower, cutting the lawn. She enjoyed cooking, visiting her home-state of Texas and spending time with all of her family. She followed her children (and later her grandchildren) in all their many activities in school and sports. After her own children were grown, her love for all children was shown as she became involved as a teacher’s assistant at Reed Elementary School where she made many friends. Later Jo Ann ran a day-care from her home for 15 years and then worked in the nursery department at Tender Years Daycare in Macon, MS.
Jo Ann was very strong in her faith, reading her Bible daily and telling everyone she met about how God had given her strength through her battle with cancer. She was always positive in her outlook on whatever she had to face in life. She used her last days to sit with her grandchildren and talk about her favorite recipes, their future, and about their salvation. Through the strength and courage she showed in her last two weeks of life, she touched many lives while giving God all the credit.

Jo Ann is survived by her husband, Larry Butler of Shuqualak, MS; two daughters: Stacy Mosley of Pulaski, MS and Michele (Brach) White of Carrollton, AL; son: Randy (Tiffiany) Butler of Macon, MS; six grandchildren: Redmon and Callie Frances Butler, Suzanne and Wade Mosley, and Jeff and Jesse White; a sister, Louise Havel (Scott Gray)of Kyle, TX; brother, Leo Hanselman, Jr. (Barbara) of Piedmont, OK and brother –in-law and sister-in-law, Jim and Billie Newell of Columbus, MS.