Spencer Robert Buttram, age 24, of Willard, MO was welcomed to his heavenly home on Christmas Eve (12/24/2020). He was holding his momma’s hand and listening to “Go Rest High on that Mountain” when Jesus took his other hand and he let go of his earthly home. I’m sure his papa who he is named after met him at the gate. Jeff and Sheryl (Fouraker) Buttram were blessed with a gift of Spencer Robert on March 15, 1996. He attended Willard Schools from Early Childhood through his Senior Year (2015). He then started attending classes with Art Inspired Academy where his talents blossomed. Spencer loved to use acrylics and watercolor to paint pictures. He also started his own comic and enjoyed developing characters in pen and ink. He volunteered for a short while at Artisan Oven in Springfield where he learned many skills to help him in his daily living. He enjoyed volunteering for Art Inspired Academy working with younger children and helped them love art as much as he did. Spencer also volunteered with Champion Athletes Office doing mailers, big events and anything that came in needing collated.
Spencer never married, but he did date Laura Owen of Marshfield for 9 years. He called her his princess and loved her with his whole heart (you could tell in the way he treated her and the way he talked about her) and they enjoyed spending time together going out to eat, dances, movies and bowling. He loved to make Laura laugh and talked of her daily even when they weren’t together.
Spencer was preceded in death by his papa (Walter Robert Fouraker) on Dec 3rd, 2020, his Uncle Johnny Choate and by his paternal grandfather (Darrell Buttram). Spencer is survived by his parents Jeff & Sheryl, beloved brothers Chance and Tristen, his Nana Shirley Fouraker, his Auntie Karen Choate and his Grandma Marietta Buttram. Spencer is also survived by a tight host of friends who consider each other family and love each other with an inseparable bond as well as teachers, peers and extended family.
Spencer asked Jesus in his heart at home with his momma and was baptized in 2014 at Sac River Cowboy Church, he was active with Champion Athletes of the Ozarks, Art Inspired Academy and Down Syndrome Group of the Ozarks. Spencer was mainstreamed in school and made an impact on his peers and teachers. He loved to bring joy to those around him and make them laugh. His peers nominated and voted him Prom King his Senior Year, he was also the manager for the basketball team his Junior year, he participated in Partners in Strength every year, he tried band for a season as a percussionist and made so many wonderful friends, he loved art and found his niche in High School with those peers where he made even more friends. Spencer was voted All-Star Athlete in 2016 by his Champion Athletes peers. Spencer enjoyed bowling, swimming and playing basketball with Champion Athletes and painting and cartooning with Art Inspired Academy. Spencer was a huge movie buff and loved scary movies especially.
Spencer was a joy to all who got to know him and will be missed by all who knew and loved him. He never let a diagnosis define who he was. Down syndrome to him was just having a crooked pinkie and that’s what he felt was different about himself and his typical peers. A memorial visitation will be held for family and friends on Saturday, January 2nd, 2021 at Greenlawn North of Springfield from 1-3 pm. A “Huge” Celebration service and party is being planned for the Spring around his 25th Birthday! In Lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Art Inspired Academy Scholarship Fund or Champion Athletes of the Ozarks.