As a form of appreciation to the dedicated and loving mothers of Butler County, Eagle staff writers asked residents to share their favorite memories of their mothers. These are their stories:

Jimmy Stewart, of Butler, grew up on a farm in Fenelton and remembers his mother, Phyllis, making life fun for him during his childhood.

Jimmy Stewart of Butler with his mother, Phyllis.

"When I was very young, my older siblings would go to school and my mom would take me for walks through the orchards. She was also very athletic and loved baseball. She'd always take time to play catch with me.

"She loves the Pirates, even now when it's tough to be a fan. I walk in the house and she tells me if they're winning or losing."

Stewart, a 1979 graduate of Butler Area High School, has had a decorated career in martial arts, winning three world championships and building a perfect record of 19-0 during a 12-year professional kickboxing career.

His mother was present when he was inducted into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame in Las Vegas in 2007.

"My mom has a lot of family living in Los Angeles. Some of them were there that night, along with her, and that was a lot of fun.

"She taught me about hard work and discipline and without that, I couldn't have done what I did."

A portion of this story is shared with you as a digital media exclusive. To read the full story and support our local, independent newsroom, please subscribe at butlereagle.com.