Matt Buttram was playing the John Madden football video game at Zac Heronemus’ on Oct. 22.

Buttram won.

“He beat me,” said Heronemus, a Madisonville freshman. “He never beat me.”

That was the last game Buttram and Heronemus would play.

Buttram, a Bowling Green freshman, died the evening of Oct. 23 at his home on 15th Street, said Harold Sanson, deputy coroner for Warren County. Buttram was 26.

Warren County Coroner Kevin Kirby said Buttram died from a seizure.

Buttram’s funeral and visitation was on Saturday, Long said.

Tommy Banton, Buttram’s stepfather, said Buttram suffered from seizures since he was 16, but had not been diagnosed with epilepsy.

Bowling Green junior Derek Long, who had been friends with Buttram for about two years, said he noticed Buttram’s health problems with seizures recently.

“He’d started having them more frequently,” he said.

Banton said Buttram had attempted to go to college in previous years, but couldn’t finish a semester because of health problems.

He said Buttram was looking forward to getting his life together.

“This time, he was really applying himself and doing good,” Banton said.

Athletic Facilities Director Brad Pittman said Buttram was a ball boy for the football team during the first four games of the season, staying on the sidelines during games and keeping track of the footballs.

“From what I knew, he was a pretty good guy,” he said.

Buttram had also began playing the mandolin, Banton said.

Long said Buttram could make a whole room laugh and always cheer people up.

“I think that he was a loving, caring person and tried to be a friend to all,” he said.

Buttram was a devoted friend, Heronemus said.

“You can’t replace a friend like that,” he said. “When he was around, you were just a better person.”

Reach Ashlee Clark at [email protected].