Gerald "Ol'Hook" Joseph Boutin

Master Sergeant Gerald “Ol’ Hook” Joseph Boutin, (U.S. Army Retired), age 89, of Buchanan was called to join our heavenly Father. Ol’ Hook passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family Sunday, 24 May, 2015.  Ol’ Hook was born in Waterville, Maine, on 12 May, 1926.  He was the son of the late Earnest and Isabelle Claire Boutin.  Hook was retired from the United States Army with thirty years of honorable service.  He served in combat in World War II, seeing combat action in the Battle of the Bulge, Belgium, France and Germany, the Korean War and two tours of duty in Viet Nam retiring from the Army in 1974.  After his Army retirement he continued his work as a civilian with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Training Unit shops continually seeking better improvements on service weapons for competition and sniper weapons platforms. He was instrumental in developing the accurizing techniques for the M1 Garand and the M14 rifle systems for those purposes. He is a double inductee into the United States Army Marksmanship Training Unit Hall of Fame both for his work as an exceptional armorer and for his accomplishments in long range shooting to include international skeet shooting. Hook was awarded the President’s Hundred Tab for his skill in High Power Rifle and the Distinguished Riflemen’s’ Badge which he earned with a borrowed weapon!  Hook established a national long range record at Oak Ridge, TN., which stood for sixteen years not to mention countless other shooting accomplishments. He was the subject of a PBS documentary program on WWII, and was the front page feature of an article in “The Christian Index” newspaper concerning his acceptance of Jesus Christ in his life and heart.  Hook was a proud member of Buchanan First Baptist Church.  Besides his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia M. Boutin; his sons Michael and Gerald B. Boutin, daughter, Sheila McWhorter, brother, Donald Boutin, AKA “Duck” and last but certainly not least his best friend and companion, Ol’ Salt, his favorite dog.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Betty Boutin of Columbus; extended family/caregivers, Steve and Robbie Edwards, Clint Carroll, Casey Carroll, and Linda and Hiram Brock of Buchanan, GA., Chase and Sarah Carroll of Bremen, GA., David and Mandy Edwards of Knoxville, TN.; one sister, Pearl Sumner of Waterville, ME; a very special niece, Glendoris Taylor of Belgrade, ME., and a very special nephew John Parman of London, KY., three grandchildren, Annalisa Boutin, Adam McWhorter, and Andrew McWhorter. It would be of a great disservice not to mention all of Hook’s countless friends, his church family, the U.S. military, law enforcement and civilian communities whose lives were touched by Hook due to his love of Christ, Buchanan First Baptist Church and shooting a precision rifle.

The celebration of Ol’ Hook’s life will include full military honors. Miss Casey Carroll will perform the National Anthem. U.S. Special Operations Forces will be in charge of Roll Call, Final Salute to Arms, and presentation of the Flag. Afterward the Patriot Guard Riders will conduct a motorcade and also play taps. The motorcade will ride to Hook’s beloved restaurant (Petros at Cedartown) where he enjoyed his most favorite dishes. Hook will be brought back to the Edwards home for his final resting place.

The celebration of Hook’s life will be conducted on Flag Day, June 14^th, 2015 at First Baptist Church, Bremen, Georgia. Services will begin at 2:00 P.M. with Pastor Allen Wilburn officiating and encouraging words from Brother Lyndon Smith. Special thanks to Pastor Herman Parker and Bremen First Baptist Church for allowing us to use their beautiful facility for our final salute to Hook!

Colonel Chris Pappas, (U.S. Army retired.) will be the pallbearer. Honorary pallbearers will be Chase and Clint Carroll, Charles Boutin, Sam Tedders, Esco Catt, Louie Morris, Barry and Ray Wood, Richard McClarin, John Parman and Tim Straus. All Hook’s many friends, family and acquaintances in the shooting community are included.

In lieu of flowers, per Hook’s request, we ask that donations be made to Buchanan First Baptist Church, c/o Pastor Allen Wilburn, Attn: Hook Boutin Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 485, Buchanan, Ga. 30113. Hook loved our flag and he loved our country! The donations will be used to erect an oversized flagpole/memorial in Hook’s honor so that everyone will have an everlasting tribute to his life and to the church he loved. Any contributions left over will be applied to the new church construction fund. Hook loved his church family and Christ as much as he loved his country. AMEN!

ALL THE WAY AND THEN SOME PARATROOPER! JOB WELL DONE!

Hutcheson’s Memorial Chapel & Crematory of Buchanan is in charge of the arrangements.

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