May 12, 1931 – December 20, 2022

Samuel Anthony Butera, Jr. passed away on Dec 20, 2022 in McKinney, TX at the age of 91. Because he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as a young adult, we take comfort knowing he is in the presence of his Heavenly Father who he unashamedly worshiped and served over his lifetime.

Sammy is survived by his wife Mary Carolyn Butera; children, Robin Bryce and her husband Marty Bryce; Jill Byrd and her husband, Grant Byrd; grandchildren Bobby Bryce, Kayla Bryce, Darby Byrd, Keegan Byrd and his wife, Victoria Byrd and one brother, Anthony Butera. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings- Mary Grace Calo and brother Joe Butera.

Sammy was born on May 12, 1931 in Houston, TX to Samuel Butera and Magdalena Schiamara Butera. He grew up in a tight-knit family and community in Houston where he worked in his family’s cafe and store. After attending Milby High School he proudly served 2 years in the Army as a Truck Driver and Radar Operator. He married the love of his life, Mary Pancamo on April 6 of 1957 in Houston. Later, Sam and Mary welcomed two daughters into their home. Shortly after the girls began school, they moved to a wonderful little neighborhood in Friendswood where Sam and Mary remained until moving to McKinney in May 2020. While remaining a humble, gentle man, Sam was an example of the importance of family values, a strong work ethic and the unconditional love of Christ.

His career consisted of over 20 years in sales and other capacities at Gerber’s Restaurant Supply. He later became a salesman for R&R Wholesale Distributors where he was known as the” candy man” at the local college bookstores.  After semi-retiring he joined Mary at the Antique Center of Texas, where he greeted and assisted buyers and enjoyed more time to be “Papa” to his grandkids.

Sammy was a self-taught woodworker, auto-mechanic, overall handyman and eventually a wood carver. It was a rare occasion that a professional repairman was needed at the Butera house. Mary, Robin and Jill truly believed he could fix ANYTHING. And they provided him with a steady stream of broken toys and damaged appliances and electronics to prove it.  When he wasn’t fixing his family’s cars or building and selling his work from his woodshop, he could be found under the hood of a neighbor’s car or working towards “Yard of the Month” or watching his beloved westerns. He was most happy dancing to 1950’s music with Mary and his girls, woodworking, attending Sunday services and class socials at Sagemont Church. He loved listening to his nightly Christian radio program on KHCB, trying out his Donald Duck voice with his 4 grandchildren and summer vacations in Wimberley. He felt such joy when spending any time at all with the loving, loud, and entertaining Butera and Pancamo families, studying God’s word, serving as a church elder at S. Houston Bible Chapel, and as a Gideons volunteer distributing Bibles on college campuses.

A funeral is scheduled for 10:00 A.M. on Friday, December 23, 2022 at Jeter Memorial Funeral Home, 311 N. Friendswood Dr., Friendswood, TX 77546, Dr. Grant Byrd will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Sammy’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to a ministry very dear to his heart- Gideons International at www.sendtheword.org. The family would like to thank Safe Harbor Caregivers, Heart to Heart Hospice, Veterans Affairs and Stonefield Assisted Living and Memory Care for the amazing compassion and care they provided their loved one.