Obituary of Robert J. "Bob" Button

JASPER: Sunrise July 23, 1925-Sunset June 27, 2017

Robert J. "Bob" Button, 91, of Hunter Hill Rd. son of Ames and Jennie (Mullikin) Button, went to be with his wife and Lord Tuesday evening, June 27, 2017 at St. James Mercy Hospital in Hornell.

Bob was a lifelong resident of Jasper, where he went to school graduating from Jasper Central School in 1945. He and his wife of 63 years, the former Evelyn Edwards, ran the Button Family Dairy Farm on State Route 36 for many years where they also raised their six children.

After retiring from farming, he continued to stay busy being a school bus driver for the Jasper/Troupsburg school district for 12 years. Bob was a 77 year member of the South Canisteo Methodist Church, 55 year member of the former Jasper Grange, a 20 year member of the Steuben County Agricultural Stabilization Committee. He volunteered his time for "Meals on Wheels", was a Jasper Town Board member for 10 years, member of the Addison Milk Cooperative Board of Directors, and a former member of the Jasper Ambulance Corp. He was an honorary State & Chapter Farmer for Future Farmers of America and was a recipient of the Steuben County Sr. Citizen Award and the Jasper Citizen of the year award in 1994. Bob also enjoyed watching many of the Jasper/Troupsburg sporting events throughout the academic year.

Bob is survived by two daughters: Nancy (James) Butler of Loudon, TN and Susan Cornell of Rochester, four sons: Robert (Valerie) Button of Jasper, Ronald (Cynthia) Button of Troupsburg, Jack (Colleen) Button of Troupsburg and James Button of Jasper. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and 2 great, great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Bob was predeceased by three brothers, Charles, Gerald and Dale Button and two sisters, Carrie Spaulding and Alta Brabant.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 7-9 pm Friday at the H.P. Smith & Son, Inc. Funeral Home, 29 East Main Street in Canisteo, where a funeral service will take place Saturday at 11:00 am with the Rev. Trevor Price officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Canisteo.

The family would like to acknowledge their appreciation to the staff at the St. James Mercy Hospital Comfort Care Unit for the wonderful care and compassion given to Bob in his last days.

Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the South Canisteo Methodist Church, c/o June Button, 3571 Ste. Rte. 36, Jasper, NY 14855.