Margaret A. Hutchinson

Margaret Alice Hutchinson entered into eternity on Friday, September 16, 2022, just one day after her 86th birthday. Her courage and strength during a nearly six-year battle with cancer, when she never complained and never questioned God, will be an inspiration to her family for the rest of their days.

By her side through it all was her devoted husband, Jim. The love and care he showed for his beloved wife, staying by her bedside through 16 days in the hospital and another 21 days in hospice, was a testament to their marriage that spanned 58 years. Rarely were they ever seen apart, and their love will be forever remembered.

Margaret was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother who will be deeply and sadly missed. The only solace is that her pain and suffering has ended, and she is now with her Creator.

Margaret was born on September 15, 1936 in Lenexa, Kansas to John and Mary Leeker. The family moved to Gardner, where her parents lived with their eight children on a farm across from the airport.

Margaret attended the Ursuline Academy in Paola where she received her teaching degree. She taught elementary school in both Kansas and Oklahoma.

Margaret met Jim in 1962 when he was in the Air Force stationed in Gardner. They were married in 1964. They eventually had four children, Kathy, Theresa, Kim and Shawn, and settled in Shawnee before moving to Overland Park in 1991.

Jim and Margaret started United Office Products Inc. in Olathe in 1971, where she worked for 51 years, coming into the office every day up until last month. Jim, her four children and son-in-law still work there, and her absence will be always felt.

Margaret was a lifelong devout Catholic, whose faith meant everything to her. Jim and she loved going to Mass together, and their devotion to Jesus helped to instill the same values in their children.

Margaret had a deep love of her grandchildren; Jessica (Brandon), Austin, Katie (Logan), Anne (Sean), JP, Dallas, Dawson, Will and Olivia, and great grandchildren Riley, Houston, Courtney and a great grandson due in December.

Margaret enjoyed playing card games with her grandkids, especially Old Maid, and loved watching them play every Sunday, when family and friends would gather at her and Jim's house for swimming, basketball, volleyball and dinner.

Margaret loved spending time outdoors at her house with Jim, sitting out on the back porch listening to music and reading mystery novels. Her favorite authors were John Grisham and James Patterson, she loved watching Kansas basketball, she loved a good cup of coffee, she loved movies, she loved doing crossword puzzles, and mostly she just loved life.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, as well as her brothers John and Bill, and sisters Celine and Patricia. She is survived by her husband, daughters Kathy Hutchinson, Theresa Haney (Mike), Kim Mitchell (James), and son Shawn Hutchinson (Katie), along with her nine grandchildren, four great grandchildren, and sisters Catherine, Rose and Agnes.

The family would like to thank everyone who visited the hospital and the hospice house and reached out during this difficult time, including Father Balachandra Miriyala, Father Don Cullen, Father Joe Cramer, Father John Riley, Father Tom Aduri, Father Brandon Farrar, Father Greg Hammes, Father Bill Bruning, Father Peter Jaramillo SSA, Father Prabhakar, the Medical Sisters of St. Joseph (Sister Celina and Sister Susmitha), the Sisters of St. Ann's (Sister Rose Manjula and Sister Saji), the nurses and staff of Olathe Medical Center and Olathe Health Hospice House, and so many other friends and family.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations in Margaret's name to the Olathe Health Hospice House, 15310 S. Marion Street, Olathe KS 66061; St. Mary's Orphanage, 664 X Road, Wetmore KS 66550; and Blessed Brian Home & Hospital, PO Box 12494, Overland Park KS 66282.

A visitation service will be Friday, September 23, 2022 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Penwell-Gable, Olathe Chapel, 14275 South Blackbob Road, Olathe KS 66062.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, September 24, 2022 at 10 a.m. at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 16000 W. 143rd Street, Olathe KS 66062, immediately followed by a graveside service at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 15800 South Hwy, US-169, Olathe KS 66062. A reception will follow at Divine Mercy Parish, 555 W Main Street, Gardner KS 66030.

To leave a message of condolence for Margaret's family, or to share a special memory of Margaret, visit the guestbook below.