Jack Butts – A Beloved Husband, Father and Grandfather

Jack Butts was an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching his Home Talent baseball team play. Additionally, he loved Friday night fish fries and playing cards. Jack leaves behind his wife Laurel; children Lynn Weasner, Holly Latsch, Leann Butts; grandchildren Garrett & Amber as well as great-grandchildren Jackson & Logan.

Butts recently graduated from Paducah Tilghman High School, and will be heading off to Centre College in Danville, Kentucky where he signed his letter of intent this week with the Colonels.

Early Life and Education

Jack Butts grew up in a family that placed an emphasis on education. After graduating from Paducah Tilghman High School, he continued both academic and athletic pursuits at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.

His primary position was that of United States Army officer. He became close with Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft; eventually becoming first secretary at their respective Embassies in Mexico.

His legacy includes his wife Laurel; children Lynn Weasner, Holly Latsch and Leann “Boomer” Butts; grandchildren Garrett (Amber) and Drew Latsch; sister Janet Sue Sisler and nephew Kendall Kiley. He was an active member of DeFuniak Springs Baptist Church where he enjoyed hot rods, Harley motorcycles, woodworking, gardening and horticulture – as well as Wisconsin sports teams like Badgers, Packers, Brewers.

Professional Career

Jack Butts is both an accomplished businessperson and respected educator. Growing up in a household where education was of great significance, Jack never lost sight of his goals or the importance of learning.

Butts was instrumental in the establishment of the Wendell W. Wright Education Building during his time as dean of the School of Education and is considered an influential scholar within education studies. Additionally, his personal book collection now makes up part of our academic collections at Indiana University Libraries.

Butts was a four-year letter winner at Tennessee, helping the Lady Vols to an incredible 124-17 record from 2000-04 and aiding teammates Raigyne Moncrief-Louis and Danielle Ballard to achieve All-SEC freshman team status.

Achievement and Honors

Jack Butts has received the prestigious National Council on Aging Jack Ossofsky Award for Leadership, Creativity and Innovation in Programs and Services for Older Adults from Generations United and has been honored three years running as one of the country’s top nonprofit leaders by Nonprofit Times.

Jack Butts, a senior from Paducah Tilghman High School in Paducah Kentucky, signed with Centre College in Danville Kentucky on Wednesday afternoon in front of family, friends, teammates and coaches. His focus will be golf at Centre College; his goal is to reach state. Currently he’s involved with golf team membership, Future Business Leaders of America membership and Student Equity Advisory Committee membership.

Personal Life

On January 8, 2023, Jack Butts peacefully passed away surrounded by family at home. He will be deeply missed by his wife Laurel; daughters Lynn, Holly and Leann (Boomer); grandchildren Garrett Latsch and Drew Latsch as well as great-grandchildren Jackson Logan Landon Latsch.

Butts was an active member of his church, Blaser & Kammer, Paducah Tilghman High School golf team and Future Business Leaders of America – as well as serving on their Student Equity Advisory Committee and Pep Club. He enjoyed Friday night fish fries with family and playing cards; also an avid sports fan with particular affection for the San Diego Chargers! He will be greatly missed by family, friends and colleagues; truly an exceptional gentleman and great man.

Net Worth

Family ownership makes up 85% of C.C. Butt Grocery Company, with annual sales totaling $34 billion across 420 stores in both the US and Mexico. Florence Butt opened her first C.C. Butt store with just $60 in Chicago back in 1905; that marked its inaugural location among five C.C. Butt stores that would later emerge.

Butts was an expert at working with owners and executives of closely held businesses on financial topics ranging from business continuity, generation and succession planning, and transitioning from single asset concentrations to disciplined portfolios as a member of LaSalle Bank’s Wealth Management group. He leaves behind his wife Laurel; daughters Lynn Weasner and Holly Butts as well as grandchildren Brooke Rebecca Payne of Berkeley Springs West Virginia and Andrew Wesley Butts from Martinsburg; his sister Janet Sue Sisler who resided nearby; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and nieces and nephews and nieces and nephews and nieces/nephes from Morgantown West Virginia as well as various nieces/nephes he left behind in Morgantown; along with various nieces/nephesers/nepheslers among many nieces/nephesler’s siblings as well as various nieces/nepheraner/Holly Butts from Holly Butts/Holly Butts/Holly Butts/ Holly Butts/Holly Butts/Holly Butts/Holly Butts/Holly Butts/Holly Butts/Holly Butts/holly Buttsner/Holly Buttsner/Holly Buttsner/holly Buttsner/Holle Wesley Buttsnersner/grandsons Lynn Wesley Buttsnersner/Holly Buttss/ Lynn Weasner/Holly Butts; Brooke Rebecca Payne/And Andrew Wesley Butts of Berkeley Springs West Virginia/And Holly Butts as well as Janetsson as well as several niece/Holly Butts