Jonina P. Buterbaugh, b. May 11, 1930 – d. January 26, 2020

Born May 11, 1930 to parents Jean (Ekins) and Walter Parkison in Flat, Rock IL, Jonina Mae (Parkison) Buterbaugh grew up on a farm near Thayer, MO. After graduating from high school in Thayer, she moved to Springfield, MO where she attended what is now Missouri State University.  She then moved to Topeka, KS where she worked as a Western Union operator.  Introduced by a mutual friend, she met Basil (Chris) Buterbaugh.  They were married September 9, 1949. Known as Jo to friends, she raised three children Phillip Basil (b. 1952), Keith Martin (b. 1954) and Mark Allen Buterbaugh (b. 1958).

Apart from brief residencies in Fort Scott, KS and Tulsa, OK, Jo was a lifelong resident of Springfield, MO. She touched the lives of many people who knew and loved her as mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, wife, homemaker, student, teacher, formidable bridge player, church member, friend and neighbor. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother James Parkison; and her husband Chris. She is survived by sons Phil Buterbaugh and his wife Carolyn Kelley, Keith and his wife Jana (Lucas) Buterbaugh, and Mark and his wife Susan (Dyer) Buterbaugh, grandsons Christopher, Joseph, Thomas and partner Janice Schilling, John Basil, David and granddaughter Allison (Buterbaugh) Gay and her husband Steven Gay, great-grandsons Lucas Buterbaugh and James Harvey Gay.

Jo loved her life and all God's creations within it. She cherished family first, but also friends and colleagues from her years at Schweitzer United Methodist Church, Bissett and Horace Mann Elementary Schools. She loved her circle of friends in bridge clubs and informal get togethers. She loved the cardinals' song and the juncos plucking seed from the snowy patio. She loved the crocus bloom and the daffodils of spring. She loved her family most of all and was happiest when as many as could were gathered together.

The family wishes to thank the Neighborhoods at Quail Creek, caring staff at Cox Heart Health clinic and hospital, as well as the staff and residents of The Montclair for their care and friendship through the last years of Jo's life.

Memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, February 1, 2020 at Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel, followed by visitation until 12:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please make a gift of charity to The Alzheimer's Association, 3645 South Ave., Springfield, MO 65807, or Safe to Sleep - Council of Churches, P.O. Box 3947, Springfield, MO 65808- list Safe to Sleep in the memo line of your check, or any other worthy charity that's a protector of people in need.