Mary Hutchinson Obituary

Mary Lou Hutchinson's epic smile painted the sky with broad strokes and a palette of new colors as she lifted off from this earth at sunrise on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017. She had savored every moment of every day during her well-lived 88 years, and her life and leaving stand as joyful testament to that. Mary Lou was born to Joe and Enid Carruth in the summer of 1928 in the small town of Kentwood, Louisiana. Her first job was behind the candy counter at her father's three-aisle grocery store when she was 12. She was promptly relieved of her duties, however, when he realized she spent all of her time wandering up and down Main Street merrily visiting with people. You see, Mary Lou loved to talk. To anyone. Anywhere. Always. She had two siblings: a younger sister, Joe Enid, who died at the age of 6, and an older brother, the Rev. Angus Carruth, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 90. In the spring of 1950 she married James Hutchinson, a Kentwood native smitten with her, after he promised to take her to Niagara Falls for their honeymoon. It did the trick, and the two of them shared a loving, adventurous, laughter-filled and friendship-rich marriage for 43 years before his death in 1993. James and Mary Lou began their married life in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, moving to Baton Rouge in 1965 where James was a professor at Louisiana State University. They had two children-Joe and Lydia-10 years apart, and in 1968 traveled to Malaysia where they lived for two years while James helped set up an agricultural college in the village of Serdang. That experience set the stage for lifelong relationships, formed as they hosted Chinese and Malaysian students once back in Baton Rouge. Mary Lou earned a degree in business from Southeastern Louisiana University, and later went on to get a Master of Education at LSU, serving as an elementary guidance counselor in several East Baton Rouge Parish schools. During their summers off from teaching, James and Mary Lou enjoyed traveling around the U.S. with an 18-ft. Airstream trailer hitched to the back of their olive green Oldsmobile, complete with a moody pre-teen and toy poodle in the backseat. After that era came summers hopping trains around Europe, followed by the two of them making friends and experiencing more of the world through Elderhostel programs post-retirement. After 50 years of living in her house in Baton Rouge-only five miles from the LSU campus where she enjoyed walking around the lakes at sunset or cheering for the Tigers-she moved to Nashville in 2015 to be near Lydia. In addition to spending time with friends there who loved her, it also afforded an endless supply of new people to meet and talk to on her daily walks. And she did, by golly, leaving a trail of smiles in her wake. Upon making phone calls after her death, her children concluded that there was seemingly no club or organization in Baton Rouge that Mary Lou wasn't a member of-so they gave up trying to make a list. Instead, here are a few things they thought you might like to know about her: • She wore purple and gold most every day, with LSU emblazoned somewhere, prompting folks to say "Go Tigers" as she walked by. During Mardi Gras she threw in a splash of green and a few beads for good measure. • She had a love affair with chocolate, and said she'd never pass up a brownie because she'd hate to think she might die and have missed out on it. • The mere mention of Frank Sinatra still left her starry-eyed. • Her favorite place was near the ocean, which is where she was with her daughter during what ended up being the last month of her life. • She watched every sunset with the awe of a child, including her very last one sinking into the Gulf of Mexico on Jan. 4, proclaiming (as always) that "this is the most beautiful one yet." • She loved a parade…any parade. • Laughing was as important to her as breathing. • If there was music, she was dancing. • She hated to go to bed at night because she didn't want to miss out on anything. • She was perpetually happy because she chose to be grateful. Along with Joe (who lives in Orlando) and Lydia Hutchinson, those left to reminisce and tell Mary Lou stories include Joe's wife Wendy, granddaughters Elizabeth Godfrey, Nancy Weber and Laura Hutchinson, their families that include five great-grandchildren, as well as nephews, nieces, and a plethora of friends around the world. In addition to James, her parents, siblings and other family members, her grandson Jack Hutchinson also preceded her in death 11 years earlier. A memorial celebration will be held at noon on Saturday, February 11 in Baton Rouge at First United Methodist Church, where she was an active member for 50 years, and a reception will follow from 1:00-2:30. Her body, like her husband's, was donated to a medical school, a decision that made them both happy knowing that as life-long educators they could continue helping students after they left this earth. In lieu of flowers, her children ask that you simply make it a point to smile and stop to talk with someone today. Then treat yourself to a brownie, because Mary Lou would hate for you to risk missing out on such a delight. Your smile will help light up the earth and keep it a little more colorful while she's busy doing the same in her new heavenly home. And Lord knows there are so many people to talk to there.

Published by The Advocate from Jan. 11 to Jan. 15, 2017.
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5 Entries

My sincerest condolences to the family. May the strength and peace that only God can give comfort you during this difficult time. Psalms 29:11

January 22, 2017

Lydia, I am just heart broken to learn about your Mother. As you know we were good friends from the church and Pollard. We had many many good times together,, football games,Madrid Gras ,supper club, oh my I could go on and on,as I am sure you know what I am talking about. She was a character and I loved her dearly. She will beGREATLY MISSED. I AM SORRY I COULD NOT BE AT THE FUNERAL I NO LONGER DRIVE AND AM LIVING AT SOUTHSIDE RETIREMENT,SO PLEASE UNDERSTAND WHY I WAS NOT THERE. I WAS THERE IN MY THOUGHTS HOWEVER. YOU ARE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. PLEASE COME SEE ME WHEN YOU COME BACK TO TOWN. WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU. LOVE, BETTY GREER.

January 18, 2017

Lydia, I did not know that Mary Lou had gone Home. I stopped the paper due to my macular degeneration, unable to read it. I knew her in college and felt she stayed the same, always. I also knew your wonderful father. I saw your hand in the obituary and thank you for doing a thorough job. Love, Annabelle Armstrong in Baton Rouge

Annabelle Armstrong

January 16, 2017

I only have to think of your mother and a smile comes to my face. She was such a generous, warm-hearted, lovely woman. I am grateful to have known her and appreciate how well you've captured her spirit in your obituary. My deepest condolences to you all.

Janet Jones

January 12, 2017

Lydia,
I was so saddened to read of your sweet mom's passing. I got to know her through years of covering Campus Club and the Woman's Club, and yes, she was always smiling. That's how I'll remember her.
Keeping you all in my thoughts & prayers.

Pam Bordelon

January 12, 2017

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