Obituary: Joyce Ann Buttram

Joyce Ann Buttram of Clermont passed away Sept. 18, 2023, at her home with her boys by her side.

Joyce was born May 19, 1938, in Decatur, Alabama, to James Cedric and Maude Sinclair Stribling. She is predeceased by her husband of 52 years, James Ross Buttram, and her parents.

She is survived by her sister, Sandra Brown (Richard) of Huntsville, Alabama; three sons, James William (Jay) and wife Patty of Groveland, Florida, John Randal (Randy) and wife Angie of Panama City, Florida, and Tobin Ross and wife, Kate of Seattle, Washington; granddaughters, Emily Layne Heymann (Ray) of Nashville, Tennessee, and Ellie Kate Shirley (Hayden) of Plano, Texas; and great-grandchildren, London Kate, Ari Jack Heymann and Millie Marie Shirley.

 A 1956 graduate of Huntsville High School, she participated in numerous clubs and activities and was a class favorite, voted the cutest. After high school, she worked for Mallory Capacitor in Huntsville until she married Jim in 1958. They lived in Starkville, Mississippi, and Auburn, Alabama, while Jim pursued his education. All three boys were born in Auburn. The family lived in Georgia and Michigan until moving to Florida in 1969. The boys grew up in Lakeland and Windermere. She and Jim moved to Clermont in 1996.

Joyce was a full-time homemaker while the boys were growing up. When the youngest started junior high, she joined Jim as they started and operated multiple businesses in West Orange County, including Dr. Buttram’s Pest Control and Citrus Systems. She was an invaluable asset to Jim during her “business” years, however, being a homemaker was her passion. She made June Cleaver look like a slacker.

She created an ideal environment for her family. An immaculate housekeeper and fantastic southern cook, a diehard little league baseball and pop warner to high school football and golf fan, even a hard rock music fan when Toby was playing. Her days were filled with taking care of her family and providing an ideal childhood for her boys.

She was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ, where she was a Bible school teacher and served continually on ministry and service committees.

Those who were blessed to know her found her to be a truly kind and generous person, who was not afraid to speak her mind. A quote attached to her photo in her senior yearbook said it all: “Humor, anger, valor, fire … a girl that life could never tire.”  She never changed. She will be missed.

The family will have a private memorial in the spring, and her remains will be laid to rest next to her beloved Jim in Giles County, Tennessee.