Karl Grant Hutchinson's Obituary
Karl Grant Hutchinson
1927 – 2016
Karl Grant Hutchinson was born in North Ogden, Utah, on May 4, 1927. He passed away on May 20, 2016 at home in Kaysville, Utah, a city he loved and where he had lived for 56 years. His parents are William Henry and Edith Janet Montgomery Hutchinson. He is the fifth child of eight and was always proud of his family heritage. His family moved to Buhl, Idaho when he was a toddler and he spent his childhood and young adult years in Buhl. His cousins were his best friends and he loved the fact that he grew up around so many of them. We are pleased he is now reunited with several of them.
Upon graduation from high school, he joined the Navy in June 1945. He became part of the Naval Air Corp which took him to various places in the U.S. for training. He loved flying and was grateful for the training and experiences he had in the Navy. After leaving the military, he was called to serve in the French mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He loved his mission and always spoke fondly of the French and Swiss people among whom he served. It was while serving in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland that he met Durene Snow of Raymond, Alberta, Canada. They became better acquainted after their missions and were married in the Cardston LDS Temple on December 26, 1951. They have 9 children; Terrie (Glen) Green, Bill (Shirley), Judy, Mary, Karen, Kendall (Robyn), Sue, Trish and Rick (Elise). Their family also grew to include 39 grandchildren, and 46 great-grandchildren, with another great-grandchild due in August.
Karl worked as an educator most of his adult life and always demonstrated the importance of education to his family. He retired from the LDS Business College as Dean of Students. After he retired, he and his wife served two missions; one in the mission office of the Tahiti, Papeete mission and the other as Institute Directors in Bordeaux, France. Karl was especially happy to serve in Bordeaux again, during his first mission he and his companion Elder Duke were the first missionaries to serve in Bordeaux after World War II.
Music was a large part of Karl’s life. He served many years as ward organist, chorister, choir director, and stake music director. He was blessed with a wonderful low-bass voice, and one of the highlights of his life was being a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He was also very knowledgeable in the gospel and loved to teach and share this knowledge. One of his last callings was teaching in the High Priest group, which he did for 12 years. The last calling from which he was released was as a Bountiful Temple worker. He loved working in the temple every week and had many good friends there. He has left a legacy of faithfulness in the Gospel and we, his family, are so grateful for his example!
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Durene, his 9 children and their spouses, and an extensive posterity. He is also survived by his sisters Janet Porter, Margaret (Gene) Kartchner, and Neta (Robert) Fulkerson as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Beth and Rosie and brothers Verlyle and Joe.
His funeral will be held on Friday, May 27, 2016, 11:00 a.m. in the Kaysville 13th Ward Chapel, 875 East 200 North, Kaysville. A viewing will be held in the same location on Thursday, May 26, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Another viewing will be held prior to the service on Friday, 9:30 – 10:45 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the LDS Church Missionary fund.
The family wishes to thank the personnel of Inspiration Hospice for the kind service given to our dad during his final months.
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