Sam Butcher, Artist of Iconic Precious Moments Figurines, Dies at 85
- Peyton Garland iBelieve Editor
- Updated May 24, 2024
On Monday, May 20th, 2024, Sam Butcher, artist of the well-known Precious Moments figurines, passed away at 85, surrounded by family. At this time, no cause of death has been shared.
Whether figurines, photo art, or customized Bible designs, most Gen X and Millennial believers are familiar with the iconic Precious Moments dolls. Sam Butcher created these near-angelic, doe-eyed characters as part of his life's mission, explaining that he wanted his art "to share God's gift of love with the world."
Precious Moments characters are faith-based collectibles, with certain figurines now worth hundreds of dollars. Whether they are depicted as Bible characters or everyday children folding their hands to pray, they represent Scripture that reminds viewers of God's gentle love and the precious way He views each of us as His children.
Butcher's love for art began in childhood when he established a passion for illustrating. His God-given knack gained a larger audience once he started sharing Bible stories on a children's Christian television show through CEF, “The Treehouse Club." As he told the stories, he would illustrate them. This opportunity granted him the resources to co-found a business with Bill Biel in 1974, Jonathan & David, named after famous Bible characters known for their inseparable friendship.
This is when the Precious Moments dolls were brought to life, offering foundational customers unique greeting cards that showcased Butcher's artwork. However, those greeting cards would soon become porcelain collectibles that fans could share and collect. Sunday School teachers and Bible program teachers could even purchase Precious Moments flannel boards, buttons, and visual materials to use for classroom-style lessons.
Today, thousands of Precious Moments characters and art designs have been produced, most by Butcher (and inspired by his children) while others by beloved fans.
Butcher also designed and established the non-denominational Precious Moments Chapel, a tourist hot spot in Carthage, Missouri, that showcases many of his featured paintings and sculptures centered on his Precious Moments art style. Butcher's design for the chapel was inspired by a trip to the Sistine Chapel in Rome and boasts 84 iconic biblical murals that cover 5,000 square feet.
Joette Blades, director of the chapel and friend of Butcher's, shared that, “He was such an extremely talented artist, but he never took the credit for his talent. He always said that it was a gift from God, and he gave God all the glory for all the talents that he had.”
Click here to share a Precious Moments tribute in honor of Butcher.
Photo Credit: ©Flickr.com
