Helen Mae (Brummett) Hutchison

Helen Mae Brummett Hutchison, 92, passed away quietly at home on April 3, 2021 in Toledo, Iowa. She was born January 4, 1929 in E. St. Louis, Illinois to Ira Martin Brummett and Ina Mae Hawkins Brummett. Her childhood was spent in and around Nashville, Illinois. Helen and her mom moved to Petersburg, Virginia to be close to her brother, George Franklin Brummett, while he was stationed at Camp Lee. It was there that Helen met George’s friend, Charles Jasper Hutchison, who was also stationed at Camp Lee. Charles and Helen were married on May 11, 1947 in Petersburg at the Calvary Baptist Church. She and Charles had three sons. Charles “Curtis” Hutchison was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi in 1948. Robert Ray Hutchison, was born in E. St. Louis in 1950. Charles took a job transfer in 1959 and the family moved to Houston, Texas. In 1961, their third son, Dave Dennis Hutchison, was born in Houston. Helen took great pride in her family, she always said she raised three good men. After Charles retired in 1991, they moved north to Toledo, Iowa in order to be closer to Dave and his family. In 1992 Dave’s job moved him to Wisconsin. In 1997 his wife, Louise, died from cancer. In 1998 Dave’s job transferred him to Florida, leaving Helen and Charles alone in Iowa. In 2000 Dave returned to Iowa to be near his parents. Outside of family, Helen loved to dance, sew, paint, read, travel, play cards and create all types of craft work. She made quilts for friends and oil paintings for family. Helen was a friend to everyone she met. She looked for, and found, the good in everyone. She became wheelchair bound after a stroke in 2002. Charles’ health began failing him in 2005 and Dave became thefull-time caregiver to both. In 2010 due to dementia and amputations, Charles was moved to the Iowa Vets Home and passed in 2013 at the Marshalltown Medical Center. Preceding Helen in death was her mom, Ina; dad, Ira; sister, Pauline; brother, George; husband, Charles; son, Curtis and son, Robert. Helen’s only surviving family members are her son, Dave, nephew Butch Brummett and wife Diane of Alamogordo, New Mexico. From 2008 until her passing, Helen and Dave were inseparable. For 13-years theynever spent more than an hour apart. Many health complications plagued Helen in her later years,but she gritted her teeth through the pain and always managed a smile and kind word for anyone she came in contact with. She was truly a testimony to love, courage, strength and commitment. Dave made his mom three promises: he would do his best to keep her out of a nursing home; he would do his best to see she would die at home; and she would take her place beside her Mom after her passing. All three promises were kept. Helen was laid to rest between her mom, who she had so dearly missed for five decades and husband, in the Greenwood Cemetery in Nashville, Illinois. She requested a private service and in attendance wereDave, along with Vera and Ben Voss’s daughters, Loretta and Cathy. Styninger Funeral Home in Nashville did a fine job of handling the service. After a life well-lived, Helen, finally returned home…

*Obituary written by Helen's son Dave

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