God's Speed Judy Pie

IF I COULD TALK, I’d tell about the redhead sitting in the second row of the 1970 summer institute. I had just been hired by The Southern Regional Media Center for The Deaf at UT Knoxville. We hosted fifty teachers of hearing impaired students for a six-week, immersion experience into the technologies then available.

That Thursday I was giving a presentation on photography when I noticed the cute redhead in the second row. I didn’t give her much more thought until on Saturday, I found her seated at the picnic table at KFC. I sauntered over with my lunch to visit.

I ate the chicken and she ate the bones!

We struck up a cautious conversation and I suggested showing her around. I found that she was from New Orleans and most recently from Baton Rouge. We rode down to the overlook at Loudon Dam. Sitting on the hill above the dam I leaned back to give her a good once-over and the thought came to me: This girl is not like anyone I have ever encountered.

SHE COULD BE BIG TROUBLE!

The institute continued and we found each other’s company agreeable, so we became a couple. Then the day came when the institute ended and we all parted ways with many “well-done's” and “see you around:” etc. I thought, Oh Well. Back to the new job and then who knows what?

Three weeks later, who rings my doorbell but Julia Alta Faye Graythen, announcing that she had enrolled in the Master’s program at UT in Deaf Education! I was amazed, but thought little of it. (Oh how stupid I was!)

A year later we were wed in a glorious ceremony. It was a splendid affair: we received the license and went to the Halls Methodist Church for the nuptials with the preacher, his wife and the church secretary in attendance. Then we went to Big Ridge State Park to grill a steak and have some wine. Our honeymoon consisted of a ride on the Octopus at the Anderson County Fair.

Our wedding song came on the radio on our trip back to Knoxville: it is

“I just want to celebrate another day of living!”
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Judy began the UT Master’s program, and given her abilities, pretty soon she was selected as a faculty person in the Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation.

Two years later Judy and I returned to Indiana University: I, to complete my Education Specialists program , and Judy to start a doctorate in Hearing and Speech. Then we had a major distraction!

Judy tested positive to being pregnant! And all our priorities changed! She told the IU folks to take a hike, and she devoted all her days to welcoming Kelly Dee Butler into the world.

Kelly arrived in October & we moved to Nashville in December 1974. We were stuck in an apartment in Hermitage and Judy was experiencing postpartum depression. I went out of town to a convention in Minnesota, and Judy bought a house! This was the second time she had taken upon herself to commit for a house while I was out of town. We have loved our home all these years and we call it the Butlerossa.
After stints at Vanderbilt University and Belmont, Judy launched herself on Williamson County schools.

Judy became the coordinator of the program for gifted students. Judy thought BIG and sought an environmental grant from Saturn. She received a grant to establish the Harpeth River Environmental and Educational Project. That project resulted in over ten thousand students being involved with evaluation of water quality and in almost a million dollars in grants to support the projects in Williamson County.

Judy was recognized as The Environmental Teacher of the year by the Tennessee Conservation League. She received an international award from Project Green as the Teacher of the Year!

Our relationship has been based on moving forward.
Now you and I have to say goodbye to one of the sweetest souls on the planet! She took after her mother in that aspect. Judy was always supportive in helping those around her to achieve greater things. The other day, I told her, “Let’s not wait so long to find each other next time around!”

God’s speed Judy-Pie!