Helen Armstrong Davis Hutcheson

Helen Armstrong Davis Hutcheson Helen Armstrong Davis Hutcheson, at the age of 90, died peacefully at home on August 23, 2003, leaving this earth to join her Heavenly Father and those who preceded her. She had courageously lived a beautiful and active life since diagnosed with cancer in 1997. An Austin resident for more than 58 years, Helen was born on May 28, 1913, in Marshall, Texas, the daughter of James Benjamin and Wilhelmina Henriette (Rodieck) Armstrong. She was the seventh in a family of four brothers and four sisters and the last of them to depart this earth. After graduating from Marshall High School in 1932, Helen later moved to Austin to attend St. Mary’s Academy and was employed for two months in the Texas Legislature. In 1936 she married her first husband, Virgil E. Davis. They relocated because of his employment in other Texas towns but eventually returned to Marshall for several years. In the spring of 1946, they came to Austin and, for the most part, lived there for the rest of their married lives, some 24 years. During those years, Helen was a full-time mother and homemaker but went to work in the State Comptroller’s Office in 1953, where she was employed until she retired in August 1977. After Virgil’s death in September 1960, Helen married Homer B. Hutcheson in April 1963, and they later moved into historic West Austin to live the remainder of their 40 years together. Over the years she and Homer had come to be known as the “glue” holdng their neighborhood together, a neighborhood of younger couples and families who came to regard them as their surrogate parents and grandparents. In fact, the neighbors, church friends, and family members celebrated with them in April their 90th birthdays and 40th wedding anniversary. Although Helen was known in her younger years as a lady who would rather “dance than eat,” she also had other great loves in her life: bridge and other card games, crossword puzzles, garage sales, and “bargains,” whether the saving was on produce at the grocery store or an item in the latest catalogue. However, she was known even more for her beautiful spirit, courage and strength, helpfulness and friendliness, caring and loving ways of sharing––whether homegrown tomatoes or homemade soup––with others, humor, and unshakability during the storms of life. She is survived by her husband of 40 years, Homer Brancher Hutcheson, of Austin; one daughter, Betty Davis McMillan, and her husband, Lendal, of Austin; two sons, James Virgil Davis and his wife, Sandra, of Lago Vista, and Charles Patrick Davis and his partner, Henry F. Urick, of Apache Shores; one stepson, Wayland T. Hutcheson and his wife, Barbara, of Houston; three granddaughters, Kimberly Jones Bass and her husband, T.J., of Austin, Kerri Leigh Jones of Austin, and Cecily Jo Davis of Austin; one grandson, Bryan Matthew Davis of Wheaton, Illinois; two stepgrandsons, James E. Hutcheson of Richmond and Michael R. Kattner II of Austin; two stepgranddaughters, Lauri Hutcheson Boen of Houston and Kimberly Kattner Longino of Pflugerville; two great-grandsons, and four stepgreat-granddaughters. The family would like to express deep appreciation for the loving care of Helen by the dedicated staff and volunteers of Hospice Austin. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Rd., Suite 100, Austin, Texas 78759 (512/342-4700). A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 27, 2003, at the Highland Village Church of Christ, 4716 Bull Creek Road, Austin, Texas 78705 (512/453-4120), with the Minister Cecil Haffelfinger of Canyon Lake Church of Christ and the Minister Rick Laing of the Highland Village Church of Christ officiating. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas 78705, 452-8811. You may view memorials online at www.wcfish.com