Jim Butterworth, brother of vanished Tasmanian woman Lucille Butterworth dies aged 82

Loving memories have been shared of the life of Jim Butterworth who passed away having spent the past 50 years fighting for answers to his beauty queen sister’s disappearance.

LOVING memories have been shared of the life of Jim Butterworth who passed away having spent the past 50 years fighting for answers to his beauty queen sister’s disappearance.

Jim Butterworth, brother of vanished Tasmanian woman Lucille Butterworth who was last seen at a bus stop in 1969, passed away at home yesterday with family by his side. He was 82.

Mr Butterworth, a keen boat enthusiast and owner of well-known Hobart yacht Preana, fought until the end seeking answers to his sister’s disappearance.

Lucille Butterworth's disappearance remains unsolved. Picture: Supplied

Lucille Butterworth's brother Jim Butterworth with his daughter Kassie-Lee McDiarmid outside the Executive Building in Hobart. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

In 2016 a coronial inquest concluded Ms Butterworth was murdered by key suspect Geoffrey Charles Hunt, but it was not enough to launch a criminal prosecution after five decades.

In a tribute published in the Mercury today Mr Butterworth’s daughter Kassie-Lee McDiarmid said her dad, who had battled cancer for several months, “always did it his way right until the end”.

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“My King, my Father, my rock, what an honour and privilege to have had you as my father,” she said. “You held me as I entered this world and I held you as you left me.

“Always inseparable and truly loved and adored, there is no one in the world that can measure up to my mighty King.

“You faced this battle with determination, you never complained about what you were facing, only that you had to leave us behind. I will forever and always love and cherish you like no other.”

Jim Butterworth on his 1896-built steam yacht Preana, at Constitution Dock, Hobart. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Ms McDiarmid said Jim “was still speaking of Lucille right until the end”.

“They will be dancing together in heaven now,” she said.

“He never gave up the fight for Lucille and my mum Sue and I will continue the battle for answers for Dad from now on.”

Lead investigator in the 2011 reopening of Lucille Butterworth’s disappearance David Plumpton, who developed a close friendship with Mr Butterworth, said “Jim was driven by the memory of Lucille”.

“Everything he did in assisting police was based on Lucille, never himself, and never anyone else,” Mr Plumpton said.

“He was a man’s man who had the heart of gold. His loyalty to family was second to nothing. His family always came first and foremost.

“Jim and I first met in a professional setting, but in the course of that we formed a friendship that became lasting and I will hold tremendous memories of our catch-ups.

“Even though Lucille disappeared 50 years ago, you could see in Jim’s eyes that he felt that it was only yesterday she left. He wanted people to remember her as the vibrant, loving person she was and that’s how I’ll remember Jim.”

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