Mary Jane Buttermore, 88, passed away November 5, 2015, after an extended illness. Born in Mt. Pleasant Township, Pennsylvania, she graduated as valedictorian of Perry Township High School, and had a degree from Franklin Commercial College in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. She moved to Panama City in 1957 and opened Buttermore Grocery at Long Beach in Panama City Beach. In her professional career, she was employed by Barron and Hilton Law Firm, the Division of Forestry, and at the Naval Coastal Systems Lab. Mary Jane was a gifted pianist and organist and she played at Gulf Beach Baptist Church and Gulf Beach Presbyterian Church. Additionally she played at local venues including The Holiday Lodge, The Sands, The Four Winds, St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club, Dale's, Tyndall Air Force Base Officer's Club and the DeFuniak Springs Country Club. She was an avid swimmer and taught many area children to swim. She was known to her grandchildren as "the swimming grandma."
She is survived by two sons, Thomas Buttermore, Jr.(Joyce) of Panama City, and by Chris (Leslie) Buttermore of Coral Springs, FL. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Cassie (Jerry) Gisclair of Tampa, FL, John (Kelly) Meyer of Panama City, Sigrid (Yancey) Betterly of Apopka, FL, and Chris Buttermore, Jr., of Coral Springs, FL. She also had six great-grandchildren, Luke and Ella Gisclair of Tampa, FL, Meredith and Megan Meyer of Panama City, Logan Betterly of Apopka, FL, and Israel Buttermore of Margate, FL. Additionally, she is survived by a sister, Helen Bordas, of Perryopolis, PA, one nephew, Joe (Debbie) Bordas of Belle Vernon, PA, and two great nephews, Jonathan Bordas and Brian Bordas of Belle Vernon, PA. Mary Jane was also blessed by dear friends, Aminta and Charlie Schiffman, and by special friend and traveling companion, Mary Johnson.
A service will be conducted on Saturday, November 14, 2015, at 11 a.m. at The Wilson Funeral Home Chapel. Speakers will include Mr. Jim Lawson, Mr. Ed Rankin, Mr. Jim Preston, and Mr. Rob Blue. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 10 a.m. – 11a.m. at the Wilson Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to the charity of choice in Mary Jane's honor.