Gerald Ray Hutchings passed away peaceable in his home in Paris, Texas on November 18, 2018, after a long and valiant battle with brain cancer.
He was born on January 17, 1952, to Walter and Patsy (Loftin) Hutchings. Gerald’s friendly and industrious nature surfaced early in life when he acquired a paper route in the 2nd grade. Riding his bike all over town, he easily made friends when he stopped to play outdoor games in all the neighborhoods, and opened his own bank account with his earnings. In high school, Gerald excelled in football and academics before attending classes at Oklahoma State and Southeastern Universities. Gerald loved the outdoors and spent many happy days hunting in the hills of Oklahoma with his father, brothers and young sons.
Gerald had a strong sense of community. As a young man, he served on the Hugo I.S.D. School Board, was active in the Kiwanis Club and was a Boy Scouts of America troop leader. Gerald moved to Paris after marrying his wife Laura in 1991. There, Gerald joined Holy Cross Episcopal Church and was active in the Paris Downtown Association and Paris Main Street.
On Saturday mornings from April to October, you could find him at Market Square enjoying the local farmer’s market. Gerald’s creative genius was expressed in the stunning sets and props he designed and built for the North Lamar High School Theatre Department. He was so adept at making “something out of nothing” that the students nicknamed him Macgyver. Gerald refused to name a favorite design, claiming it would be like picking a favorite between his children. Standouts among his dozens of productions were the spectacular barricade in “Les Miserables” and the crowd-pleasing rain on stage in “Singing in the Rain.”
Gerald was also a music lover, and with the help of Cas Haley, established The Listening Room where Parisians could hear some of the most talented singer-songwriters from across the U.S. After retiring from the Western Farmers Electric Cooperative, Gerald turned his passion for a great cup of coffee from a hobby to a business. That Guy’s Coffee, a small batch roaster, was opened in 2009.
Gerald is survived by his devoted wife Laura and their children Gerry Hutchings and wife Jody, Joey Hutchings and wife Geni, Josh Hutchings, Courtney Renfro and husband Joey, Nicole Sanders and husband Carlos, Trey Rhodes and wife Debbie, and John Rhodes and wife Victoria; grandchildren Eaven, Jordan, Jace, Jayden, Isaac, Ava, and Finn Hutchings, and Carter, Camden, Cooper, Cenedy and Charli Renfro, and Kasey, Raleigh, Sydney and Danaye Rhodes; brothers Ron Hutchings and wife Eliese and Jackie Hutchings and wife Shirley; sister Janet Sauer; sister-in-law Susan Holmes and husband Rhett Gideon; father-in-law John Beard and wife Maryann; the mother of his children, Sarah Hutchings-Parker; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Please join us in celebrating Gerald’s life at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at Holy Cross Episcopal Church. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gerald Hutchings Scholarship Fund at the North Lamar Theatre Department, or the Gerald Hutchings Memorial Fund at Paris Main Street for improvements to the Market Square location.
Or simply savor your cup of coffee, visit with your neighbor, love on a baby, and appreciate nature’s beauty. Gerald would like that.
