Patsy Reeves Hutchinson

Patsy Reeves Hutchinson, 73, of La Grande, died Feb. 10 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Feb. 22 at the La Grande Presbyterian Church. Friends are invited to attend a luncheon at the Friendship Center immediately following the service. Private family interment will take place at Grandview Cemetery.

The last of six children, Patsy was born Oct. 11, 1937, to Ernest and Florence Reeves in Umatilla. She attended grade school and graduated from Umatilla High School. Having earned scholarships to attend college, she earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education at Eastern Oregon College.

While attending EOC, she lived with the M.J. Goss family, caring for three of their children and working summers at Goss Motor Co. in the parts department. While working there, she met the love of her life, R.J. "Shorty" Hutchinson. On Aug. 18, 1958, they were married in Winnemucca, Nev.

Originally hired to teach all elementary grades in the one-room schoolhouse in Perry, Patsy was transferred to Greenwood Elementary School when Perry was consolidated into the La Grande school system.

Patsy taught for 15 years at Greenwood Elementary School, then transferred to Willow Elementary, where she taught for 18 years.

In 1991, after 33 years of teaching, Patsy retired. She was always happy when she was working with children. In 1987, she had been awarded "Teacher of the Year" by the Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity. In 1992, she was recognized in "Who's Who Among America's Teachers" as one of the "Best Teachers in America, selected by the Best Students."

Patsy was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International for 40 years. She belonged to the La Grande Education Association, Oregon Education Association and the National Education Association. After retirement, she became a member of the La Grande chapter of the Oregon Retired Educators. For many years, health permitting, she attended a weekly "Koffee Klatch" with a group of her retired teacher friends.

Patsy and Shorty liked RV camping with friends and spent many weekends boating and fishing at Wallowa Lake. They snowmobiled in the mountains of Eastern Oregon and made several trips to ride in the Yellowstone National Park area. She had a great interest in wildlife and enjoyed afternoon drives along the foothills, looking for birds and animals.

Patsy will be remembered for her kindness. Her philosophy was "It's best to find the good in people and overlook any bad." She was a loving and devoted wife, companion, step-mother and grandmother. For more than 50 years, she enjoyed a very special friendship with college friends Betty Hyde, Janis Keffer and Barbara Carter Nash, as well as her close teaching associates, Jewel Koopman, Marilyn Lester, Kay Juniper and many others.

She was blessed to have wonderful neighbors, the Teddy and Kathy Nickerson family, who gave her so much loving care and attention, throughout her last years.

Patsy was preceded in death by her parents and an older sister, Dottie Stephens, all of Umatilla. Survivors include her husband of 52 years; her "special loving caregivers," sister Norma Busler of Umatilla and Norma's daughter Dawn "Sis" Watts of Pullman, Wash., who spent many months at her side during her illness; stepdaughter and husband, Christie and Johnnie Sanders of Portland; siblings and their spouses/caregivers, Harold Reeves, Bennie Reeves and Maxine Marcum, Rita Jean and Dan Creamer; brother-in-law, Alva Stephens; one granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grande Ronde Hospital Home Health Hospice, the Friday Backpack Program, the Shop with a Cop Program or any fund of choice.

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