Dennis Eugene Hutchinson, age 66, a resident of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at St. Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri.
Born on October 24, 1957, in Chillicothe, Missouri, to Paul Eugene and Julia Ann (Graham) Hutchinson, Dennis was raised on the family farm in Bunch Hollow near Dawn, Missouri. The farm, constructed by his father, was a cherished place where he and his father engaged in building barns, pouring concrete, and managing a hog operation for several years. Dennis had a passion for hunting deer and mushrooms on the farm, which he considered his happy place.
A 1976 graduate of Tina-Avalon High School, Dennis initially worked for Chillicothe Iron and Steel before starting his career at Donaldson Company in Chillicothe. He worked at Donaldson’s for over 30 years as a welder, earning accolades for his skills, until strokes in 2021 led to his retirement.
Dennis was a long-time member of Enon Baptist Church. He married Kathy Jean Houseworth on October 8, 1988, at the same church in Dawn, Missouri. The couple settled in Chillicothe and raised their two daughters there. Known for his quiet demeanor, Dennis’s sense of humor and wit emerged once you got to know him. He enjoyed countryside drives, spending time with family and friends, and was always ready to lend a hand by building and fixing things for others. Among his creations were metal steps for his home, a custom-built iron swing set, a wedding platform, entry doors, a bridge for his daughter’s outdoor wedding, and a squirrel feeder.
Dennis is survived by his wife, Kathy; daughters Amanda Hueber and her husband, Staff Sergeant Mark Hueber of the United States Air Force, residing in Newport News, Virginia, and Audra Lauren Hutchinson of the home along with her significant other, Rigdon Newsom, of Chillicothe, Missouri; grandchildren Lorelei and Magnolia Hueber; his parents; sister Denise Willis and her significant other, Wayne, of Springfield, Missouri; uncle Richard Hutchinson and his wife, Carol, of Dawn, Missouri; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Kenneth and Lena Mae Hutchinson; maternal grandparents, Jimmy and Olga Graham; Uncle Lee and Aunt Delores (Hutchinson) Anderson; Aunt Carol Hanks; Uncle Frank and Aunt Norma Jones; cousin Rickie Anderson; and friend and best man, Michael Anschutz.
Funeral services will be held at Lindley Funeral Home in Chillicothe, Missouri, on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Visitation is scheduled at the same location on Saturday, April 27, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with the option for friends to call from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. that day. Burial will take place at Braden Cemetery in Bogard, Missouri. Instead of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Enon Baptist Church, Braden Cemetery, or the Tina-Avalon Ag Department and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri, 64601.
