Geneva R. Butterworth

GENEVA R. BUTTERWORTH MUSCATINE, Iowa -- Geneva Ruth Yenney Butterworth, age 86, formerly of Marion, Ohio, passed away on Tuesday, February 14, 2012, at SunnyBrook Assisted Living in Muscatine. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 17, 2012, at SunnyBrook Assisted Living. Reverend Teressa Clark of Faith United Church of Christ will officiate. A graveside service will be held at a later date in Marion, Ohio. The Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences: www.wittichfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a memorial contribution to one of the following: The Salvation Army, 317 W. Church Street, Marion, OH 43302; The Marion Area Humane Society, 2264 Richland Rd., Marion, OH 43302; Iowa Hospice, 1615 Second Avenue, Muscatine, Iowa, 52761; or the Muscatine Humane Society. Mark & Carol would like to say a special "thank you" to the staff at SunnyBrook of Muscatine and Iowa Hospice for all the loving care you've given our mother in recent months/years, and also to all of her many good friends who have blessed her life in so many ways. Geneva was born on Ma...[more]

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4, 1925, in Marion County, Ohio, the daughter of Walter F. and Alice M. Seiter Yenney, and was later raised by her grandmother, Emma Yenny and her step-father, Henday B. Ayres as well as by her mother after her father died in a hunting accident when Geneva was just 5 years old. Geneva graduated from Harding High School in 1943 and took some classes at Marion Business College and The Ohio State University. On April 5, 1946, Geneva traveled to California by train to marry Navy serviceman Marvin A. Butterworth, to whom she remained married for 59 years until he preceded her in death in 2005. After marrying, the next 40 years of Geneva's life was primarily spent raising their three children: Mark A. Butterworth, Daniel L. Butterworth & Carol A. (Butterworth) Schlagenhauser. She also worked with elementary children for 25 years in Marion City Schools. Geneva had a very out-going, likable personality, thus accumulating many good friends throughout the course of her lifetime. She loved to laugh and joke and was the life of the party. Always wanting to be on the go, she enjoyed traveling, going out to eat, shopping and spending time with her friends and family. Geneva was an avid animal lover and always had a dog or cat living with her, along with all the other critters that her children brought home over the years. She was also a talented baker; the holidays will never be complete without her delicious pies, cookies and fruitcake, which she claimed to make "JUST for Carol." Before moving to Iowa in 2008, Geneva was a 40+ year member of Mt. Vernon Ave. Church of Christ and was a generous supporter of many causes and benefits in Marion. Geneva is survived by her son, Mark (Sharon) Butterworth of Muscatine; her daughter, Carol (Mike) Schlagenhauser of Butler, Ohio; her grandchildren, Lyne Butterworth of Florida; Dr. James (Jennifer Ancell) Butterworth of Minnesota; and Billy, Steven and Amber Schlagenhauser of Ohio; her younger brother, Robert Ayres of California; her sister-in-law, Florence Owens of Ohio, and numerous nieces, nephews and good friends. In addition to her parents, aunts and uncles, Geneva was also preceded in death by her husband, Marvin; their son, Daniel; her older siblings, Martha, Paul & Edith; and her infant younger brother, Henday Ayres II.