Hal Douglas Hutchings

Hal Douglas Hutchings - Submitted for the USGenWeb by Janet Byram Newsom 6-23-2023

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Hal Douglas Hutchings - Madison Parish, Louisiana
JULY 27, 1934 – JUNE 19, 2023

From Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home Bossier City, LA June 22, 2023

Services to celebrate and honor the life of Hal Douglas Hutchings of Bossier City, LA, age 88, will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2023, at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home in Haughton, LA. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the funeral home stateroom, with the funeral service following at 11:00 a.m. in the mausoleum with full military honors. Interment will be in Hill Crest Memorial Cemetery. Pastor Matt Cate of Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, LA will officiate.

Hal went to be with his Heavenly Father on Monday, June 19, 2023. He passed away peacefully in his sleep.

Hal was born on July 27, 1934 in Spring Garden, AL to John Chesley Hutchings (Papa Chess) and Willie Mae Hardin Hutchings (Granny Bill). Hal grew up in Rockmart, GA and then moved to Tallulah, LA. He attended Tallulah High School where he met his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Dona Rae Horn Hutchings. They were married in 1953. During their marriage, they were blessed with three children; Mike, Susan, and Chess. They were married for 61 years until Dona went to be with the Lord.

Shortly after Hal and Dona married, Hal enlisted in the United States Army where he served for 25 years. While serving in the military, his tours of duty included Fort Hood, TX; Shreveport, LA; Abilene, TX; Binh Hoa, Vietnam; Balboa, Panama Canal Zone; Okinawa, Japan. While serving in the military, Hal earned 11 medals including the Purple Heart for injuries sustained in Vietnam, the Bronze Star, the Vietnam Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medal with Palm, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medal with Palm Unit, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Army Presidential Unit Citation Honor. After military retirement, he then started his second career with the United States Postal Service in Shreveport, LA, and retired after 20 additional years of service.

Hal was a loving husband, Daddy, and Poppaw who loved his family and always put them first before himself. He enjoyed gardening, swimming, watching LSU football, and participating in activities with his family.

Hal was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 61 years, Dona Rae Horn Hutchings; and his oldest son, Michael H. Hutchings.

He is survived by his brother Norman Glen Hutchings and wife Shirlyn; daughter, Susan Hutchings Holtzclaw and husband, Lee; son, John Chesley “Chess” Hutchings, II and wife, Kimberly; grandchildren, LeAnna Holtzclaw Bailey and husband Chase, Chelsea Holtzclaw Boswell and husband Ben, Allie Hutchings, Julie, Maury, Anna, and Madison Hutchings; and great-grandchildren, Grayson and Parker.

Pallbearers are the United States Army Military Honor Guard. Honorary pallbearers are Chase Bailey, Ben Boswell, Dr. Larry Flake, Zane Nipper, Scott Casey, and Mike Aguillard.

At the time of his death, our dad was under the watchful care of the staff at the Northwest Louisiana War Veteran’s Home in Bossier City, LA. The Hutchings Family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff for their excellent care over the past few years.