Shirley Ann Hutcherson

Shirley Williams Hutcherson, 88, passed away on Thursday, July 20, 2023 in Arlington.

Funeral: 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 26, at Wade Family Funeral Home, 4140 W. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington. Interment: Shannon Rose Hill Memorial Park, Fort Worth. Visitation: 9-10 a.m. Wednesday prior to the service at the funeral home.

Shirley was born in Arlington, Texas on June 25, 1935, to Ira Allen Williams and Verda Tunnell Williams, lovingly known as Duck and Pete, in the house her parents built at Kelly Elliott Rd and Poly Webb Rd, now known as Green Oaks Blvd. She was raised in this loving home along with her older brothers, Charles and “Ruffy”. Shirley was part of the “Tater Hill Gang” at Handley High School, where she played on the Girl’s Tennis Team, was a cheerleader, voted Most All Around and made lifelong friendships, graduating in 1953. She attended Arlington State College (UTA) where she met Hutch when they both were cheerleaders, graduating in June, 1955. They were married on July 15, 1955. They welcomed twins, Jon and Jan, in May of 1956, losing Jon 33 hours later. They then moved to Lubbock, where Hutch graduated from Texas Tech in 1960. Upon graduation, they moved to Arlington and in January of 1961, welcomed their son, J., and in November of 1965, welcomed their daughter, Kellie, to complete their family. They built their home in Dallas in 1968. Hutch then accepted a position in Wichita, Kansas in the summer of 1971. As hard as it was to move away from loved ones, Wichita is where many enduring friendships were created. They attended Metropolitan Baptist Church, where Shirley was involved in the youth ministry. In 1979, Hutch and Shirley fulfilled their dream of starting their own business, Hutcherson Construction Inc., and moved back to Arlington. Shirley worked alongside Hutch, retiring in 1997.

Shirley’s first priority was taking care of her family. She was always the room mother, always the chauffeur, always a part of any sport or activity in which her children participated; she was a “short order cook” every weekday morning and on Sunday morning, she would make breakfast for the family to share together, have dinner in the oven, and get us to church on time! She was fun-loving, energetic and made every holiday special, from heart shaped cakes for Valentine’s Day to Easter baskets filled with eggs and chocolate bunnies. She single-handedly made our holiday dinners, and miraculously, everything ended up on the table, hot and ready to enjoy. Christmas time was always full of much joy and laughter. During our years in Kansas, we traveled to Arlington every year for Christmas. Somehow, all our wrapped packages were packed in the car without the kids ever knowing, and they would magically appear under the tree on Christmas morning. She led a Special Needs puppet program for Arlington schools, teaching elementary students’ acceptance of people with disabilities. She enjoyed tennis, yardwork, reading, needlework, babysitting grandchildren and great-grandchildren, get-togethers with their church group, and many travels throughout the world with Hutch.

Shirley died peacefully at home after a long illness, surrounded by the ones who loved her most. In heaven, she was not only greeted by Jesus, but also by her infant son, Jon Wesley, and infant granddaughter, Lindsay Jo.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; infant son, Jon Wesley; infant granddaughter, Lindsay Jo; brother, Charles Williams and his wife, Helen; and sister-in-law, Evelyn Williams.

Survivors: Her loving husband of 68 years, Hutch; daughter, Jan Lesli Gibson (Paul); son, J. Allen Hutcherson (Denise); daughter, Kellie Jo Coffee; grandchildren, Tyler (Christen), Bailey, Reid (Kourtney), Nate (Katherine), Alex, and Keaton; great-grandchildren, Knoxx, Hayden, Eli, Saylor James, Mills, and Wrenley; brother, Royce Williams; brother-in-law, Jerry Hutcherson (Jessica); and many loving nieces and nephews.