Samuel Butcher, the founder and designer of the collectible “Precious Moments” porcelain figurines, died at the age of 85 on Monday, the company announced in a statement.
In a post shared to Facebook, the Precious Moments company wrote: “It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Precious Moments beloved founder, Sam Butcher, who was called home to God in the early morning hours today, surrounded by loved ones.”
“In his final words he shared that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were with him, and that it was beautiful,” the post added.
The company added that Butcher’s legacy would live on. “Although the sorrow is great, it is our prayer that the appreciation and celebration of his legacy be even greater – the legacy of his glory-filled life, the countless blessings he bestowed upon the millions of lives he touched, and the incredible fulfillment of his life’s mission: to share God’s gift of love with the world.”
Samuel Butcher was born in 1939 in Jackson, Michigan, and was the third of five children who grew up “in a very poor family,” according to his company’s website.
As a child, Samuel Butcher spent his time drawing and sketching, often scouring a factory dump near his family home to search for rolls of paper, as his family could not afford art supplies. A deeply religious man, Butcher often drew Bible stories — a precursor for the designs that would one day make him famous.
After graduating from high school, Butcher won a scholarship to the College of Arts & Crafts in Berkeley and, following college, began a stint in the shipping department at the Child Evangelism Fellowship. It was at the Fellowship where Butcher was eventually promoted to the art department and, in his spare time, began drawing teardrop-eyed children for friends and family.
Those drawings ultimately became the Precious Moments that launched to the public in 1975 on inspirational greeting cards and posters, and in 1978 as figurines. In 1989, Butcher opened the Precious Moments Chapel.
Butcher married his college sweetheart, Katie, and the couple had seven children — Phillip, Timothy, Don, Jon, Heather, Tammy and Deb — and 53 grand and great-grandchildren. Philip, Timothy, and Katie all preceded Butcher in death.
Today, the Precious Moments brand is continued by Butcher’s children Don, Jon and Deb, alongside master sculptor Hiko Maeda.
The Longview News- Journal reports that a Precious Moments figurine called “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” commemorating Butcher is now planned for release.