Patrick "Pat" Joseph Buttell

Patrick (Pat) Joseph Buttell, 81, born in Shakopee, Minnesota on August 24, 1942, passed away after a long illness on February 12, 2024. Mr. Buttell spent most of his childhood on the family farm before heading to a boarding school for Catholic seminary candidates. Deciding the priesthood was not for him, he attended college, and was the first member of his family to obtain a college degree, which he did from University of Minnesota. He continued his education with an MSW degree from Florida State University. Mr. Buttell was passionate about his career helping others, helping found The Friary in Gulf Breeze, and various businesses such as The Pain Management Center in Pensacola, and Center for Life Decisions and Behavior Management Systems in Mobile, Alabama. His career highlights include an appearance with Betty Ford on Good Morning America, which his kids were allowed to watch in Mr. Speed’s principal’s office at GB Elementary, and a radio interview with Larry King. He had a successful private practice in Mobile for years but deciding that it was “time to give back,” he closed this practice to spend the final decade of his career working with the chronically mentally ill at Searcy Hospital in Mount Vernon, Alabama until the day it closed in 2012. It was not uncommon to walk with Mr. Buttell in Pensacola, Fairhope, or Mobile and have someone he helped in the past approach him with gratitude for his efforts for them or a family member, and this always made him tear up and say he was happy his life had had meaning. He was a fun, loving father to his four children growing up in Gulf Breeze, known for weekend trips to see movies with a car packed with neighborhood kids, his buttermilk pancakes served poolside to his kids and anyone else who happened to be there. He is preceded in death by his parents, Anne and Frederick, his six siblings, and his wife Audrey Wilhelm Buttell. He is survived by his daughter, Maria Wilhelmus, and his grandchildren, Henry, Piers, Burke, and Helen Wilhelmus, his son Fred Buttell and his wife Kelli, and his grandchildren Brennen, Emma Buttell, Jack, Katherine and James Rose, his daughter Tina James and her husband John and his grandchildren Cade, Colin and Cooper James, his son Tim Buttell and his wife Susan and his grandchildren Brett and Rae Buttell.  A heartfelt thank you to all of those at Peoples Hospice and Palliative Care for your love and compassionate care, especially Samantha, TK, Whitney, Karen, Jessie, Claudia, Kalah and Chaplain Tom.  Services will be held at Rose Lawn Funeral Home Gulf Breeze, February 23^rd.   Visitation from 4:30 to 5:00, followed by Memorial Service at 5:00 PM.  You may express condolences to the family and sign the guestbook at www.roselawn-fh.com.