Margaret Hutchings

Published 1:53 pm Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Margaret P. Hutchings, 93, of Dowagiac, passed away Thursday morning, December 26, 2024, at Miller’s Assisted Living in Dowagiac.

She was born on June 19, 1931, in Gobles, MI, the eldest of ten children to Hershel and Hazel (Smith) Lawrence. Margaret grew up in Decatur, MI and attended Decatur High School. She worked as a waitress in Decatur and for her step-father at McBride’s Restaurant in Dowagiac. On October 6, 1950, she was united in marriage to Eugene Hutchings in Decatur. Together they ran Hutchings Adult Foster Care Home on M-62 West in Dowagiac for several years. Margaret was also employed as a Nursing Assistant at Lee Memorial Hospital in Dowagiac, including the maternity ward, for almost 30 years.

Surviving are her four children – David (Lynda) Hutchings of Galien, Dale (Pamela) Hutchings of Irons, Debra (Duane) Stover of Dowagiac, and Darrell “Rich” (Pamela) Hutchings of Niles; daughter-in-law – Carol Hutchings of Dowagiac; nine grandchildren; 1 step-grandchild; several great-grandchildren; many great-great-grandchildren; five siblings – Lois Renne, Mabel “Arlene” (Frank Daisy) Becker, Joyce (Thomas) Marsh, Duane “Keith” (Shirley) Lawrence, and Judy (Michael) Van Ek.

Preceding her in death were her husband of 60 years – Eugene Hutchings; father – Hershel Lawrence; mother and step-father – Hazel and Walter McBride; eldest son, Duwane Hutchings; daughter-in-law – Susan Hutchings; grandson – Trent Hutchings; step-grandson – Scott Coplen; great-grandson – Brenden Hutchings-Cosey; and four siblings – Kenneth Lawrence, Richard Lawrence, Kermit Lawrence, and Beverly Wilds; and step-brother – Max McBride.

Honoring Margaret’s wishes, cremation has taken place and her family will remember her privately.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Margaret’s name may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or a charity of one’s choice.

Margaret’s family would like to thank Miller’s Assisted Living for the loving and thoughtful care they provided her over the past four years.

Arrangements were entrusted to Clark Chapel – Starks Family Funeral Homes, 405 Center St, Dowagiac. Please visit Margaret’s personalized webpage to share a memory or leave a condolence to her family at www.clarkch.com.