Mary Eileen LaDeaux Lukens Hutcheson
Mary Eileen LaDeaux Lukens Hutcheson passed away on December 20, 2012.
Eileen will be remembered for her kindness, generosity, compassion, forgiveness and loving ways. She was blessed in her life in many ways with two loving children, two loving husbands and a career that she absolutely loved. Eileen was a doer. She left Marietta College during the 2nd World War to work in a munitions factory in Akron, only to discover that she was too young. She met her first husband, Gene Lukens, in Akron. They had two children, Joe and Lois and moved to Marietta in 1960. She was widowed in 1963 at the age of 40. Eileen completed her education at Ohio University with a BA and MA in Education and a specialty in Reading. She loved teaching young children at Phillips, Harmar and Fairview Schools in Marietta. The children she taught still find her to tell her she was an inspiration and made a great impact on their lives. She was passionate about her work and felt blessed to have the opportunity to retire from a career she loved.
Eileen married Ralph Hutcheson in 1978 and enjoyed 33 years with her second love. She and Ralph traveled and enjoyed their retirement years, especially the 8 summers they went to "Work Camp" with the youth from Christ United Methodist Church where they were both very active and where Eileen served in many leadership positions,
Eileen was a servant leader. She belonged to and volunteered with many organizations and as a true friend to those she loved…who were many. She is a member of P.E.O., United Methodist Women, Harvest of Hope, Pioneer Civitan Ladies Auxiliary, Chi Omega, ATO Mom's Auxiliary, and will be remembered by many for "David's Cookies", which she made and gave away by the hundreds of dozens.
Eileen was also blessed with two very close women friends, Jeanne Strecker Edwards and Jean Nuss, who also shared with Eileen, her faith and love of God, as well as a loving caregiver Cathy Schultheis and her husband Ron. Eileen's survivors include Joseph E Lukens (son) and Lauren Crecelius Lukens, Ft. Myers, FL; Lois E. Lukens (daughter), Marietta; Lucas Child (grandson), Flagstaff, AZ; Flip Lukens (grandson) & Pamela, Spring Hill, TN; Michelle Lukens Cochran (granddaughter) & Matt, Greensburg, In; and six great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, George Henry and Alice Mae LaDeaux, her sister Nellie Black and brother Johnny LaDeaux, as well as both husbands, Eugene Lukens and Ralph Hutcheson.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, December 27, 2012, at Christ United Methodist Church with Reverend Don Archer officiating. Interment will follow at 2:30 pm Knights of Pythias Cemetery in Elizabeth, WV. Friends may call at McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home on Wednesday (Dec. 26) after 2:00 with family greeting friends from 2-4 & 6-8. Messages of sympathy may be sent at www.mslfuneralhome.com
Memorial contributions are requested to Harvest of Hope, 301 Wooster Street, Marietta, OH or Marietta Home Health & Hospice, 450 Pike Street, Marietta, OH 45750.