After several months of illness during which everything was done to prolong her life and relieve her suffering, Mrs. Grace Hutchins succumbed to the dread disease, cancer, passing peacefully to her final rest about five o'clock Monday afternoon.
During the last two weeks, Mrs. Hutchins' condition grew rapidly worse and all hope of recovery was abandoned. While her mind was still clear and before it became necessary to administer stronger opiates to relieve her suffering, she called her family to her side, calmly and fearlessly facing the end, gave them her last message and made all arrangements for the final services. These were faithfully carried out according to her wishes.
The following sketch of Mrs. Hutchins' life and tribute to her memory, was prepared by Mrs. Jessie T. Babcock:
Grace Greenwood Clement, daughter of Benjamin and Eliza Jane Lippincott Clement, was born at Welton, Iowa, March 20, 1872, and died at North Loup, Nebraska, July 23, 1934, aged sixty-two years, four months and three days. When quite young, her father brought his family to Valley county, living first on Davis Creek where the wife and mother died, then moving to North Loup, where Grace's home has been ever since except for a very brief residence out west. July 7, 1888, she was baptized by Rev. Geo. J. Crandall and joined the Seventh Day Baptist church at this place.
She was married, at Ord, Nebraska, September 24, 1892, to Wesley T. Hutchins. Four children were born to them, Floyd P.; Mrs. Gladys Christensen; Mrs. Helen Louise Brennick and Clyde W., all of North Loup, and all privileged to care for her in her last illness of several months. Two little grandsons, LaVern and Donald Hutchins, were a great joy to her.
These few recorded facts do not tell the story of Grace Hutchins' life. She was quiet and reserved with strangers, but closer acquaintance revealed a beautiful character which will influence her friends for all time. She inherited a fine, strong voice and a great love for music, and for years no gathering was complete without her voice. At one time she was leader of the choir, but she took most delight in singing with her own family who were all musical.
She was a tireless worker in the Woman's Missionary Society from the time she joined it as a young girl, and always found time, without neglecting her family, to minister to neighbors and friends. In late years, deafness began to creep over her like a dark shadow, they never heard a word from her of dissatisfaction with her lot. She bore her affliction uncomplainingly and made the best of it. Being compelled to give up many activities which she enjoyed, even her beloved music, she did not sit down with folded hands and cry, but looked about for something else to do. For years she has been chairman of the Work Committee in the Woman's Missionary Society, because as she herself said, "That is something I can do." Her patience in affliction, her beautiful spirit of "carrying on" in spite of it, is one of the finest lessons she could teach us. She was so utterly unselfish that she never had time to parade her own troubles.
But the work she loved best, outside of her home, was teaching the Beginners' Class in Sabbath School. For fifteen years she has devoted herself to starting little feet in the Christian's path, until now a majority of the young people have passed through her loving hands. The little ones adored her and the one regret of her last days was that she could not attend Children's Day and see her class of little ones on the platform.
Not long before the end, she said, "I do not want to die. I have too much to live for, too many loved ones to leave, too many things I want to do. But I am not afraid to meet my Heavenly Father, and it is time for me to go. I am ready." And so she passed on as she lived, unselfish, uncomplaining, to the end.
Surrounded by beautiful flowers and plants which she so dearly loved, the body lay in state at the Seventh Day Baptist church for an hour Tuesday, preceding the farewell services at two o'clock. Rev. Hurley S. Warren spoke briefly and fittingly, using the text from Proverbs 31 verses 25, 26, and 31.
Music was furnished by a double mixed quartet composed of Archie Moulton, Arthur Stillman, Sadie Cox, Celia Moulton, Mildred Clark Cole, Fern Maxson, Leslie Greene, and Glen Barber with Nina Johnson at the piano. Selections were "It Is Not Very Far Away." and "Abide With Me." "One Sweetly Solemn Thought," was sung by Archie Moulton as a solo.
The body was laid to rest in the family lot in the North Loup cemetery, where LaVern and Donald Hutchins, placed their floral tributes on the casket as the last service they could render their beloved grandmother.
Casket bearers were the sons, Floyd and Clyde Hutchins, sons-in-law, Edward Christensen and Harlon Brennick, and nephews, George and Arthur Hutchins.
