Helen Louise Murtagh Hutchison, 1905-2012

HUTCHISON, MURTAGH, CRATTY, CARROLL, PETERSON, KRUSE, GOFF, ARDINGER, NEYLAN, WRIGHT

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 4/8/2014 at 12:46:47

Helen Hutchison
May 3, 1905 - October 5, 2012
Resided in Des Moines, IA

Obituary
Helen Louise Murtagh Hutchison died at Wesley Acres on October 5, 2012, at 107 years of age. She was born the eldest child of Charles B. and Edna Cratty Murtagh on May 3, 1905, in Ringsted, IA. When she was six years old, the family moved to Algona, IA, where Helen attended school. She graduated from Algona High School in 1923. She attended Ward Belmont College in Nashville, TN and graduated from the University of Iowa in 1927 where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and Phi Beta Kappa. She taught Latin and English in Belmond, IA.

In 1928, she married Theodore (Tedo) Call Hutchison in Algona, moved to Los Angeles, CA, then to Iowa City, IA, and back to Algona in 1933, where Tedo practiced law. They were the parents of three children, Helen Sue Carroll, Theodore Murtagh Hutchison and Thomas Robert Hutchison.

She was active in the First Methodist Church, PEO, and AAUW. She taught in the Algona Public Schools after her husband's death. She moved to Wesley Grand in Des Moines, IA, in 1988.

Helen was predeceased by her husband; her daughter, Sue Carroll; her son, Tom Hutchison; her son-in-law, John Carroll; her sisters, Ann Peterson and Betty Kruse; and her brother, James Murtagh. She is survived by her son, Ted Hutchison (Susan) of West Des Moines; sister, Jean Goff (Sterling) of Louisville, KY; and grandchildren, Charles Carroll (Cathy Costello), Olympia, WA; Holly Hutchison Ardinger (Robert), Prairie Village, KS; Stephen Carroll (Mary), La Quinta, CA; Molly Carroll Neylan (Robert), Morgan Hill, CA; Hilary Hutchison Wright, West Des Moines, IA; Theodore (Tad) Hutchison (Tami), Seattle, WA; Joseph Carroll (Lisa), Los Gatos, CA; Sarah Carroll Myrick (Tim), Newport, OR; and Thomas Carroll (Karen), Rocklin, CA. Helen is also survived by 18 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and 107 years of friends.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Algona, IA, and Central Presbyterian Church, Des Moines, IA, and also PEO, Chapter LL. Helen was an inveterate traveler who visited over 100 countries. She enjoyed nature, especially birds. She will be fondly remembered by her grandchildren as an expert and competitive Scrabble player who was always ready for a "game" and who rarely lost.

Helen donated her body for research to the University of Iowa College of Medicine. Memorial services will be held at a later date. The family thanks all at Wesley Life for their loving care. Remembrances in her name may be made to the Wesley Acres Good Samaritan Program at Wesley Acres, 3520 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50312. ARRANGEMENTS BY ILES FUNERAL HOMES ~ DUNN'S CHAPEL. - See more at: http://www.ilesfuneralhomes.com/obituary/Helen-Hutchison/Des-Moines-IA/1121405#sthash.KqEtR7db.dpuf ~ The Des Moines Register, 5 oct 2012.