Julius Herbert “Butch” Spry Jr. passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 14, after a valiant battle against cancer.
Butch was born to Julius and Mary Elizabeth Spry on June 27, 1947, in Decatur, Alabama. He spent his early years with his sister Elizabeth Prentiss “Penny” Spry and his parents living in Pulaski, Tennessee on the Crescentview, a farm owned by Butch’s grandfather. The family lived in a home built before the Civil War, and the farm was a wonderful place for a young boy to grow up. He loved the farm so much, in fact, that when his father, Julius, dropped him off for his first day of school, Butch wanted to get back home so badly that he quickly climbed out the window and beat Julius back to the car. Butch often said that those early years on the Crescentview were some of the happiest of his life. In the mid-1950s, the family moved back to Florence, Alabama for several years before settling in the Center Star community.
Butch graduated from Coffee High School in 1965 and enrolled at Auburn University. In 1970, he earned his pharmacy degree from the Auburn University School of Pharmacy. After graduating from pharmacy school, Butch moved back to the Shoals area and went to work at Killen Corner Drugs. Over the next 15 years, with the help of several college classmates and friends, Butch acquired and operated seven more community pharmacies in North Alabama and Southern Tennessee. He worked in the pharmacies until the early 1990s when he took on more of an administrative role with the businesses and began spending more time on his farms. His boys often joked that he was one of the finest “farmercists” in the area.
In recent years Butch enjoyed traveling, hunting and fishing, and just “piddling” around the farms. He was a generous supporter of the Auburn University School of Pharmacy and Auburn athletics.
His compassion and generosity have blessed many lives, and he will be missed dearly.
Butch is survived by his wife, Diane Spry; his sons, Drew (Jennifer) Spry and Scott (Olivia) Spry; his four granddaughters, Victoria Spry, Lauren Spry, Prentiss “P.K.” Spry, and Elizabeth Spry; and his special canine companion, Anya.
Honorary pallbearers will be David Frye, Jeff Thompson, Tommy Whitehead, Beth Cox, Trey Maharrey, Tim Holt, Tommy Johnston, and Joey Poss.
The family especially wishes to thank all of the people who took care of Butch over this last year: Dr. John Waples and the nurses and staff at Clearview Cancer Institute in Huntsville, the staff of Kindred Home Health Services, and Kay Powell. You all treated him with respect, dignity and compassion, and we will be forever grateful to you for that.
Lastly, but certainly not least, the family wants to thank all of the pharmacists and staff of Killen Corner Drugs, Barnett Drugs in Rogersville, and Loretto Drugs. Butch always thought of you as part of his family and appreciated your dedication, support, and friendship. Thank you.
The family will hold a visitation on Saturday, Feb. 17, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Killen United Methodist Church Christian Life Center in Killen, Alabama. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Butch’s honor be made to the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association, Clearview Cancer Institute of Huntsville, Alabama, or a charity of your choice.
