Jan Alice Butler

Jan Alice Butler (Boswell) was born January 3, 1941, to Lois (Thomas) Gilkison and Chester Gilkison and fell asleep in death on January 14, 2025, at Belton Regional Medical Center after prolonged health issues.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, February 1st at Kingdom Hall, 6033 East 137th Street, Grandview MO, 64030. This will be streamed on a Zoom Meeting: Zoom ID: 819 4879 8510; Zoom Password: 425069.

Jan was preceded in death by her mother, Lois Gilkison, her father Chester Gilkison, her first husband of 44 years, Howard Boswell, and two daughters: Lisa Boswell and Stacy (Boswell) Kelly.

She is survived by her loving husband Lloyd Butler, her son Steve Boswell and his wife Michelle Boswell, 2 brothers Don Gilkison and Charles Gilkison, her sister-in-law Rita Gilkison, son-in-law Wyatt Kelly; 6 grandchildren: Crystal (Kelly )Harper; Kaylin (Kelly) Rainwater, Ryan Boswell, Madison (Boswell) Harrell, Larsen Boswell and Jadeyn Boswell, along with 4 great-grandchildren: Wyatt Taylor, Brennan Harper, Emily Harper and Bennett Seifert-Boswell, and one niece Nicole (Gilkison) O'Brien, along with hundreds of fellow Jehovah's Witnesses whom she considered all to be her brothers and sisters in the faith.

Jan was born in San Antonio, Texas. From childhood on, she developed a tremendous love of animals and devoted much time to raising and living with her furry little friends. One of her favorite memories was going to her uncle's small carnival where they had pony rides. Jan loved horses and in her youth was a gifted equestrian. After World War II, her family moved to Kansas City Missouri. Their first home was above their father's barbers' shop at 75th and Troost. In 1953 the family moved to Grandview. Unfortunately, while the family huddled in the corner of the cellar, with the spiders, the house was swept away by the 1957 tornado, known as the Ruskin Heights Tornado. Thankfully, everyone survived.

Jan attended and graduated from Grandview High School in 1959. That same year she married Howard Boswell, and they were married for 44 years. Three children were born into this union, Lisa, Stacy, and Steve. After living in Lincoln, Nebraska for a few years, they returned and settled back in Grandview, Missouri. Howard passed away in 2004. For many years Jan provided a home daycare for local children, so she could be home with her children. She instilled a hard work ethic in all the children she took care of. When her youngest child started school, Jan started working for the Internal Revenue Service and continued there for 15 years.

Jan was a passionate animal lover her entire life. She rescued and saved many over the years. She even worried about homeless cats in the neighborhood so every day she would put fresh cat food outside for them. She had a love for birds as well and had many bird feeders in her yard. She also loved working in her yard, and it was not unusual to find her cutting her grass and tending to her flower gardens at her Grandview home, where she lived for over 50 years and culminated in winning yard of the month in the summer of 2016 from Grandview. She definitely had a green thumb, evidenced by all the variety of flowers and plants in her yard. She especially loved her "Moonflowers" and her elephant ears!.

Jan was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses on July 5, 1968. She was a member of the Belray Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. For over 56 years she devoted herself to her ministry. Jan enjoyed helping others to understand what the Bible really teaches about God's Kingdom, the promise of living forever in a peaceful paradise earth, and the hope of the resurrection, when loved ones will be reunited with family and friends. (John 5:28, 29) Jan loved attending the meetings. When it became difficult for her to meet in person, you would find her on the Zoom connection. She was usually one of the first to log on and loved visiting and encouraging others. Most morning, during the week, you would find her on Zoom as well, with other friends who had health issues, writing letters to her neighbors, encouraging them to learn more about Jehovah God and his Word, the Bible. She set a good example for others.

After being widowed for 12 years she found love again, in a somewhat unusual and almost comical way. A gentleman friend, a brother in her congregation, who was also widowed, whom she had known for many years approached her and asked, "would you like to have your own personal Butler". (By the way, his last name was Butler.) She didn't understand exactly what he was talking about until he asked if she "would like to be married to a Butler"' She said, 'are you proposing marriage to me?' And then answered 'yes'. A few weeks later they were married. Later she would tell her friends how funny it was, and how she really didn't know why she said 'yes', but that she was incredibly happy that she did! Lloyd Butler put a sparkle in her eye and deep friendship and love blossomed. They remained truly bonded in love until Jan's passing in death on January 14, 2025.

When hearing that Jan had passed, one friend said they would always remember Jan as a faithful sister, never missing from the temple, like Anna (Luke 2:37), always early, with a good comment ready. She fought diabetes forever with a smile. She'll never be forgotten.

Jan will be remembered as a faithful Witness of Jehovah God. She had an enthusiastic love and devotion to her family and friends. She touched the lives of many, with her kind and giving spirit. She will be greatly missed but it's comforting to know she is no longer suffering and now rests in Jehovah God's memory. We can look forward to the time when we see her again in the resurrection, as well as all our loved ones who have passed away.

"And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away. " Revelation 21: 4

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Center for the Visually Impaired of Atlanta, Georgia, 739 West Peachtree Street, N.W., Atlanta, GA 30308; https://cviga.org/donate-to-cvi