CARTHAGE, Missouri — Sam Butcher, the artist who created the “Precious Moments” figures of angelic, teary-eyed children, has died at the age of 85.
The company said on Facebook: post He died early Monday morning surrounded by his family. His life’s mission was reportedly to “share God’s gift of love with the world.” No details were released about the cause of his death.
Some of the Christian-themed dolls feature Bible verses or images of praying children, and fans have collections numbering in the hundreds, but critics have derided them as kitsch.
Butcher says his childhood love of illustration was embraced by a wider audience when he began telling Bible stories on children’s television shows while drawing them, an experience that led him to co-found his own company in 1974, which he named after the biblical characters Jonathan & David. Online Obituaries.
Early offerings included greeting cards, but within a few years, the paintings were transformed into porcelain figurines.
Thousands of designs have been created over the decades, and fans of his work flock to Precious Moments Inspiration Park and Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage, Missouri each year.
The centerpiece of this pastel-painted, nondenominational oasis is the chapel, which Butcher built after being inspired by a visit to the Sistine Chapel in Rome in 1983. It covers more than 5,000 square feet and features 84 murals with biblical themes.
“He was a very talented artist, but he never took credit for his talent,” said chapel director and friend Joette Blades. “He always said it was a gift from God, and he gave God all the glory for any talent he had.”
