Jean Frances Butcher, age 86, passed away June 6, 2022, in San Antonio, TX. She was born on September 24, 1935, in Beaumont, TX to Benjamin and Lillian Rickett. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend who will be dearly missed.
Jean excelled in school, skipping several grades, and graduating from Hebert High School in Beaumont, TX at the age of 15. She was very athletic and a star on her high school basketball team. From high school, she went on to attend Prairie View A&M University where she majored in elementary education and graduated at the age of 19. Prairie View A&M University is where she met her future husband, Arthur J. Butcher.
Jean and Arthur married in 1956, 10 days before Art, an Army Officer, left on a tour of duty for Korea. Jean fully supported her Army husband, accompanying him on many assignments around the world. The couple started a family in 1958, having 3 children (2 daughters and 1 son). The family settled in San Antonio, TX in 1971.
Being a teacher was Jean’s passion for 35 years, spending most of those years at Dorie Miller Elementary School. She was devoted and determined to make a difference in her students’ lives. Jean was also a Supermom, engaging and supporting her children in a multitude of sports and other activities growing up. No matter whenever or wherever her children’s events were, Jean was always in attendance.
“Ema”, as Jean was affectionately called by her grandchildren and their friends, was a huge sports fan, even when her children weren’t involved. She was a Spurs’ season ticket holder for 20 years and her all-time favorite player was Tim Duncan. Some of her other favorite athletes were Peyton Manning, Serena Williams, and Tiger Woods.
Jean was a Stage 4 cancer survivor. In 2007, she was diagnosed with uterine cancer and underwent chemotherapy and radiation, resulting in her remission.
She was preceded in death by her parents Benjamin Rickett Sr. and Lillian Rickett; her brothers Benjamin Rickett Jr., James Rickett, Charles Rickett, Ronald Rickett; her daughter, Shari Johnson; sister-in-law, Gaylor Rickett, and son-in-law, Glenn Francis.
Jean is survived by her beloved husband of 66 years, Arthur Jackson Butcher; daughter, Rhonda Francis; son, Arthur Butcher, of San Antonio, TX; granddaughters, Jenna Francis, Alicia Francis (Christian), Kayla Francis of Houston, TX; grandsons, Bradley Johnson (Courtnie) of Round Rock, TX, Bryant Johnson (Alexis) of Houston, TX; great-granddaughters, Courinne Johnson, Alyse Prince and great-grandsons, Braxson Johnson and Jayce Johnson. She leaves behind a brother, Donald Rickett (Shavon); sisters-in-law, Shirley Rickett and Mary Rickett; son-in-law, Kevin Johnson, and many nieces and nephews; Roderick Rickett (Vernita), Donald Rickett, James Rickett, Opal Rickett (Marcus), Raven Rickett (Kevin), Toi Rickett, Tracie Rickett, Monica Rickett (Ike), Benjamin Rickett, and godchild, Vanessa Franklin.
The Visitation will be 5-8 p.m., Sunday June 26, 2022, at Sunset Funeral Home Chapel. The Funeral Service will be 10 a.m., Monday, June 27, 2022, at Crestview Baptist Church, 8101 Eagle Crest, Windcrest, TX, 78239 (with a visitation at 9 a.m.). Interment will follow at the Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery at 11:30 a.m.
