Virginia Jean (Smithhart) Butcher

Virginia Jean “Ginny” Butcher, 80, of Mount Pleasant passed away on Monday, July 6, 2026, at her home surrounded by her loving family.

Ginny was born on March 18, 1946, in Mount Pleasant, the daughter of Albert Lewis and Ada Clara (Horning) Smithhart.  She graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in the class of 1965.  Ginny was united in marriage to William Warren Butcher in December of 1964, at the First United Methodist Church in Mount Pleasant.  From this marriage three children were born, Brad, Dan and Lori.  After her divorce she was united in marriage to Clayton J. Hawbaker in June of 1987. He preceded her in death on June 15, 2004, after 17 years of marriage.

Ginny was an outgoing person, one who enjoyed being with others.  She worked at the Iris Restaurant in Mount Pleasant, Great River Medical Center in West Burlington and University of Iowa Hillcrest Market Place as a food coordinator until she retired in 2020.   After her retirement she became a part of the REC Center in Mount Pleasant which became a vital part of her life. Ginny loved raising flowers and vegetables and doing crafts.  Ginny was an avid Iowa Hawkeyes fan and followed Catlin Clark.

Those thankful for sharing in her life include her children, Daniel Wesson (Angi) Butcher, of Mount Pleasant and Lori (Frank) Birchfield, of rural Mount Pleasant, her grandchildren, Elizabeth, Ethan, Michael, Matthew and Addison and one great granddaughter, her sisters, Joyce (Ron) Dorothy, of Mount Pleasant, Peggy Volner and Margaret Schinstock, both of Salem, along with many nieces and nephews. She was a dear friend to many and will be missed deeply.

 She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one son, Bradley Butcher, her brother, Ralph “Smitty” Smithhart, her sister, Beatrice Thornton, brothers-in-law, Ted Schinstock and Gurvis “Dobie” Volner, and two nieces, Teresa Harvey and Terry Gately.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. on Friday, July 10, 2026, at the Murphy Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant where the family will be present from 4 to 7 p.m. that evening.  A private graveside service will be held in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, rural Mount Pleasant. Memorials may be directed to Every Step Hospice or to the Mount Pleasant REC Center in her memory.

The Murphy Funeral Home of Mount Pleasant is honored to serve the family with love, comfort and dignity as we celebrate the life of Virginia.  

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