Thomas Nelson Buttermore Sr.

Tom was born in Harlan County, Kentucky to Dr. Harry King and Nell Kathryn Buttermore on December 24, 1935. He attended grade school in Liggett, Kentucky and went to high school at the Kentucky Military Institute. He attended Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, received his degree in chemistry from Eastern Kentucky University and his MBA in Finance from the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

His career began in 1961 at IBM where one of his proudest business accomplishments was the sale of early computer systems to The Jockey Club of America. He later was Manager of Commercial Sales for Sperry Univac and District Sales Manager for General Electric Medical Division for the sale of X-ray, CT Scanners, Nuclear medicine, Ultrasound and MRI products. He managed the first district to achieve $100 million in annual sales.

Tom became an avid sailor in 1978 buying his 35’ Morgan sloop teaching himself to sail on Lake Lanier near his home in Atlanta. It was aboard Lady Laura in 1981 that he made his first Atlantic crossing from Savannah to Plymouth, England with his 18 year old son Tom, Jr. and his lifetime friend Danny Tiedge, then 26. He and friends sailed Lady Laura from England, along the coast of Spain and to the Canary Islands over the next several years. In 1987 he made his second Atlantic voyage from Grand Canary to the British Virgin Islands with his nephew Bruce Buttermore and one other crew where she was eventually sold. When retired from business, he found a 60’ Ocean Schooner in England that was perfect for him to start a charter business. He obtained his US Coast Guard captain’s license, flew to England and made his third Atlantic voyage across to the Virgin Islands where he and his chef, Sharon, sailed and entertained guests aboard from 1998 to 2005. There he made friends with all he met and became known for his smile, laughter and great storytelling. After a few years stateside he yearned for the life in the islands again and in 2012 he bought his last yacht, a Pearson 53’ ketch. Tom along with his mate Sharon, and their West Highland Terrier, Schooner II sailed her from Texas to St. Thomas where they lived aboard and enjoyed leisurely sails with friends. It was there that his mate, Sharon, became his wife in 2013. In 2018 he and friends sailed to Bradenton, Florida, sold the boat and he, Sharon and their Westie, Schooner III settled into their home in Palmetto, Florida.

Tom is survived by his wife Sharon, his former wife Rosemary, daughter Laura Pitts (Joe), and son Tom, Jr. (Lori). He has three grandchildren, Alex (Amy), Conner (Mackenzie), and Caroline Jarrell (Mike) who together blessed him with four great granddaughters, Juliette and Margot (Alex), Cameron (Conner) and Nell Kathryn Jarrell (Caroline). Also surviving are his beloved sister Ruth Alice Pope (Daniel), nieces Elaine Lucas, Kathryn Poole and Marybeth Carter, nephews Dr. Daniel and Rev. John Pope, Fred and Terry Loving, Bruce, Rodney, Robert and King Buttermore. Tom was lovingly called the “caboose” by his father and was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Willard, Harry, Rodney, Dalton, his sister Mary Jean Loving and nephews Martin, Jan and Mike Buttermore.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday February 1, 10:30am at The First Presbyterian Church, 1402 Manatee Ave W, Bradenton, Florida followed by a luncheon and sharing of memories at his home in Palmetto, Florida.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Tunnels to Towers foundation at T2T.org.