Beverly 'Jeanie' Jean Butler

Beverly Jean (Hearnley) Butler, 88, of Danville, Illinois, was reunited with her Heavenly Father on Friday, February 25, 2022, at Carle Hospital in Urbana, Illinois. She was surrounded by her loved ones.

Jeanie, as she was affectionately called, was a loving wife, devoted mother, cherished grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and trusted friend. Her life was devoted to nurturing her family and caring for others. She was born at home in Sardine Patch located in Westville, Illinois, on July 28, 1933, to Dell Francis and Mary (Sousprekis) Hearnley. Growing up on a farm in Georgetown during the Great Depression, she worked hard helping her family to raise cattle, sheep, chickens, and alfalfa. She attended Wingard Grade School, a one-room schoolhouse, in Georgetown, and later graduated from Georgetown High School with the Class of 1951. While in high school, she was in many activities and was voted Homecoming Queen. She worked for Illinois Bell Telephone Co. in Danville as a telephone operator, repair clerk, and engineering clerk before leaving to be a full-time homemaker. She married the love of her life, Roy Robert Butler, on February 17, 1957, at the First Church of Christ in Georgetown, Illinois. They recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Jeanie and Roy were blessed with three daughters, Lesa Butler (Morris Darwish) of Grapevine, Texas, Lori Butler (Dana Dempsey) of Grand Prairie, Texas, and Linda Butler Arrigucci of Austin, Texas. "Gram," cherished her granddaughter Emma Sofia Arrigucci, and loved to tell her stories and sing to her.

Survivors include her devoted husband, loving daughters, granddaughter, sister-in-law Martha Cobble of Georgetown; nephews Kane Groppi, Matthew (Julie) Groppi, Staff Sgt. George Butler, II, Frank (Janet) Butler, John (Melissa) Butler all of Danville, Rex (Teresa) Cobble of Georgetown; nieces Mari Groppi Cullen of New Braunfels, Texas, Suzanne See Handley and Sally See of Amarillo, Texas, Donna Jean (Paul) Rogers, Paula (Kenny) Ray all of Danville, Pamela Blue and Patricia Cobble all of Georgetown; Fernando Arrigucci of Austin, Texas; and her first cousins, Patricia (David) Moeller of Millville, California, Sally Hearnley of Champaign, and Joanne Johnson of Danville. She leaves behind many great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins. She is survived by many lifelong friends including, Katie (Mark) Meyer, Lyletta Searle, Mickey Seidler, Mary White, Judy McCarty, and Donald and Terry Patterson.

She is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Rosalie Sue Groppi; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Butler, Myrna Butler, LaVerne See; brothers-in-law, Ray Frank Butler, George Allen Butler, John Henry Butler, Gino Groppi, William See, Rex Cobble; nephew, Robert Butler, and great nephew, Tyler Ray Butler.

Throughout her life, she served as a 4-H Leader in Vermilion County, PTA member at Danville District #118, room mother for her children at Roselawn and Edison Grade Schools--even taking the familys pony, Geronimo, to school for the children to enjoy pony rides. She was an officer in the Illinois Bell Pioneers, member of Georgetown Buffalo alumni group, and member of the Frontier Twirlers square dance group. She was a founding member of the Danville Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, where she taught Sunday School for many years, and served in the primary presidency and Relief Society.

Jeanie had a magnetic personality and could light up a room with her beautiful smile. She loved to entertain and carried on family traditions by hosting holiday dinners and many family gatherings. She won second place in a Commercial News cooking contest for her famous rice pudding with lemon sauce recipe. Her country spareribs, homemade pies and cobblers, Thanksgiving dressing, and kugelis, a Lithuanian dish, were all family favorites. Jeanie loved to dance and sing along to music, especially to music from the Big Band era.

The family wishes to thank her caregivers, most especially Chelsea Ware of whom she was very fond. Jeanies life touched the lives of so many, and she will be greatly missed for her compassion, generous heart, sense of humor, and strength of character.

Visitation with the family will be held at Sunset Funeral Home, 3940 N. Vermilion Street, on Thursday, March 3, 2022, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will be celebrated at the funeral home on Friday, March 4, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. Burial and graveside services will follow at Sunset Cemetery. Donald Patterson will officiate the funeral services. Please join Jeanies family in sharing memories, photos, and videos on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.

Services Visitation Thursday March 3, 2022 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM Sunset Funeral Home & Cremation Center 3940 N Vermilion St. Danville, Il 61834 Funeral Service Friday March 4, 2022 11:00 AM Sunset Funeral Home & Cremation Center 3940 N Vermilion St. Danville, Il 61834