This note came in today from our friend Alan Gerard, the Meteorologist In Charge of the NWS office in Jackson. I thought I would post this since most of the Southeast U.S. “weather family” checks in with us fairly often here on the blog…..
All,
It is my sad duty to report that Jim Butch, the recently retired Warning Coordination Meteorologist at WFO Jackson, MS, passed away Sunday afternoon after a short, courageous battle with cancer. Jim retired from our office in September 2006 after nearly 15 years as the WCM here in Jackson. Prior to that, he had been both a lead and journey forecaster, as well as WPM, here in Jackson. He had also served as a meteorological technician in Jackson in the late ’70s and early ’80s. In between his stints in Jackson, he had a several year stay at WSO Athens, GA before going to WFO Tulsa as a forecaster for a short time. Prior to coming to the NWS, Jim served in the U.S. Air Force.
Jim was well known in the Jackson area and throughout the Arklamiss region as the face and voice of the National Weather Service, and he served in that role for many high profile weather events, including Hurricane Katrina and a number of tornado outbreaks. His expertise was utilized by regional and national teams, including his serving on the service assessments for Hurricane Floyd and the Hall-White County, GA tornado event. An accomplishment that Jim was particularly proud of was the role he played in the development of a 1996 state law mandating NOAA Weather Radios in all schools in Mississippi. He won several awards during his career, most notably a Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Director’s Award for Excellence and a NWS Director’s Coin for his work during Hurricane Katrina.
Jim was 55 years old at the time of his death. He is survived by his son John, his daughter Julie Butch Gardner, his mother, two brothers and a sister, and one granddaughter. He will be deeply missed by all of us here at WFO Jackson.
Arrangements are as follows:
Visitation
Tuesday, 8/7 5 to 8 pm
Ott and Lee Funeral Home
1360 W. Government Street
Brandon, MS 39042
(601) 824-6018
Services
Wednesday, 8/8 10 am
Pinelake Baptist Church
6071 Highway 25
Brandon, MS 39047
Memorials in Lieu of Flowers
American Red Cross
Please contact me for any additional information.
Alan Gerard
MIC WFO JAN
