Jerry Boyce Hutchinson, 79, died Sunday, October 2, 2022, at his home in Springfield, Missouri, after a grueling five-year battle with cancer and its complications.
He overcame stage IV non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple bouts of pneumonia, CMV retinitis, which dramatically impaired his eyesight, and COVID. In June 2022, he faced a new enemy, acute myeloid leukemia, which, along with his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, proved more than his body could overcome. He left the hospital after more than a month of palliative care to spend his last days at home with his family.
Jerry was born on September 22, 1943 to Boyce Edwin and Mildred Oexmann Hutchinson in Vincennes, Indiana.
The new family moved back into the big white house next to her grandfather Oexmann’s watermelon farm, but they didn’t settle in Indiana.
Jerry’s paternal grandfather and great-grandfather ran a gas station across the Wabash River in the small town of Sumner, Illinois. Boyce went to work at Sumner, eventually taking over the business. During Jerry’s elementary school years, the family lived in the three rooms at the back of the Texaco station, sharing the bathroom with customers. In Jerry’s high school, the family had moved to a spacious new house just down the street from the Texaco.
When Jerry was seven, his only brother, Gary, was born. During Jerry’s last few months of illness, Gary called daily to check on Jerry’s well-being.
Small town life allowed for the development of lifelong friends and the enjoyment of simple pleasures such as traveling the countryside listening to Elvis and rock ‘roll on the radio. It also helped develop one of Jerry’s passions, motor racing. On weekends, the Hutchinson family was at the races.
Cars and racing have become an obsession. The Sumner High School yearbook listed activities such as basketball, dancing, or flirting for its freshmen. Jerry’s was listed as well known for its “model cars”.
When Jerry got his heart’s desire—a driver’s license—he practiced his best running form by circling the lake at Red Hills State Park. One night his Mario Andretti moves faltered. He rolled the car down the embankment, landing it on the roof. When Jerry asked his father how he would get around now, Boyce replied, “You have a ‘really’ bike, don’t you?” Truth be told, Boyce used a slightly stronger word than “darn.” A few years later, however, Jerry switched from that bike to racing stock cars and dragsters.
At Sumner High School, Jerry played center for the school basketball team and was the Class of 1961 Salutatorian.
He attended the University of Missouri at Rolla, graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1965. He excelled academically, being elected to Pi Tau Sigma, the National Honorary Mechanical Engineering Fraternity. He interned at Ford Motor Company, Detroit, Michigan. He also raced track, specializing in high hurdles.
He then held engineering positions in the automotive, petroleum and aerospace industries.
In college, Jerry met Kitty Louise Davenport. They were married on June 25, 1965 in Waynesville, Missouri. They had two daughters, Amy Louise and Heather Lynn. They divorced on November 15, 1971.
While living in Robinson, Illinois, Jerry met missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jerry’s faith in Jesus Christ and his commitment to the gospel were reaffirmed. He was baptized as a member on May 4, 1968. He remained a dedicated member for the rest of his life, serving in various church organizations and as a parish and church service missionary. Her faith in the Savior never wavered.
After his divorce, Jerry worked in Newport Beach, California, Kansas City, Missouri and Denver, Colorado, then moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in February 1980.
That month, he met Angelyn Jennie Nelson at church. She was attracted by his calm, his kindness and his sense of humor. Jerry loved jokes, puns, puns and funny stories. Even when he received the terrible diagnosis this year that he had acute myeloid leukemia, he joked, “Well, at least my leukemia is cute.”
Jerry and Angelyn were married on June 19, 1981, at the LDS Temple in Salt Lake. They had two daughters, Stephanie Michelle and Elizabeth Ann. Jerry and Angie spent 35 years in Salt Lake City and Layton, Utah before moving to Springfield in 2017.
Family was central to Jerry’s life. He always supported his daughters in their activities, attending school events, Stephanie’s musical concerts and Liz’s volleyball activities. When they were discouraged, he was their best cheerleader. He encouraged their academic excellence. He also made sure they knew the purpose of life and had love for the Savior.
When the grandchildren arrived, he rejoiced in their antics and accomplishments, loving them dearly. On Sundays and the days in between, they could expect a phone call or a visit from Grandfather.
Although married to a journalist, Jerry has always uncomplainingly supported Angie in her endeavors despite her long, crazy and stressful working hours. As Angie’s friend and colleague wrote this week, “I loved Jerry and his calm, laid-back manner. It needed someone like that to keep things in perspective in this business.”
When Angie was caring for her aging parents, there was no objection from Jerry about her missed dinners and long absences. When her stepmother moved in with Jerry and Angie in her final four years, he helped care for her, fulfilling her often demanding requests.
Jerry’s family is grateful for his presence in their lives and the unconditional love he gave to everyone. In this tender moment, they mourn his loss but are assured that they will be together again in the eternities. “They are relieved that his suffering is over.
Jerry was predeceased by his parents.
His surviving family includes:
Wife: Angelyn, Springfield; daughters Elizabeth (Casey) Talbot, Fair Grove, Missouri; and Stephanie (Mark) Deppe, Springfield; and his brother: Gary Hutchinson, Sumner, Illinois.
Grandchildren: Porter, Mia, Zoe, Sage, Naomi and Carmen Talbot; Colton and Alaina Deppe.
Also: daughters, Heather Clemons, Denver, Colorado; Amy (Cameron) Newell, Baker, Oregon.
Grandchildren: Meghan Morris, Nick (Hallie) Morris, Michael (Alexis) Morris, Joshua Morris; Liberty (Justin) Broughton, Justus Newell.
Great-grandchildren: Aidan, Kaladin, Evan, Raelynn, August, Phillip, Alice and Peter.
The family would like to thank Dr. Mohan Tummala, Stephanie Liedl, Jayme and Mercy Hospital’s O’Reilly Cancer Center; Dr. Alastair Haddow; the nurses and orderlies of Mercy Hospital’s 7A Oncology Ward, and other Mercy physicians and healthcare workers for their professionalism, expertise, and compassion over the past five years. In Jerry’s memory, the family suggests that blood donations be made to Mercy Hospital Springfield Blood Services or your local blood bank.
Funeral services will be Friday, October 7 at 10 a.m. (CDT) at Greenlawn Funeral Home, 3506 N. National Avenue, Springfield, Missouri 65803. A visitation will be held Thursday, October 6 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. The funeral will be broadcast live.
Posted by Greenlawn Funeral Home North on October 5, 2022.