Ray Charles Hutchinson

Ray Charles Hutchinson, 88, of Bridgeport passed away on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at Skyview at Bridgeport. His funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at New Life Assembly of God Church in Bridgeport with Pastor Jonathan Seng officiating. Burial will follow at Oregon Trail Memorial Cemetery with military honors by the Nebraska National Guard. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Memorials may be directed to Shelley Kaufman, 404 Snyder Place, Alliance, NE 69301. Online condolences may be found at www.bridgeportmemorialchapel.com

Ray was born July 27, 1928 at Bridgeport, Nebraska to Ray Spencer and Bessie Pauline (Edwards) Hutchinson. He received his education at Bridgeport. On October 21, 1950 he was united in marriage to Jo Ann Sherlock at Bridgeport. Ray served in the U.S. Army from March 21, 1951 until his honorable discharge on December 20, 1952 where he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

After his discharge, Ray and Jo Ann made their home in Colorado Springs, CO before returning to Bridgeport. Ray worked at the Sioux Army Depot in Sidney before starting his career as a Conoco Tank Agent for Deaver Oil Company. In 1983, Ray and Jo Ann moved to Ogallala where they operated a motel until moving back to Bridgeport in 1988. Jo Ann passed away in February of 1994.

Ray worked for the Nebraska Department of Roads for seven years. On July 23, 1999 Ray married Rosetta May (Hayes) Christensen at the Cheyenne County Courthouse in Sidney. The couple made their home in rural Bridgeport.

Ray was a member of Northfield Assembly of God Church in Gering. He enjoyed raising a few “critters” once in a while (calves and pigs) and in his later years he enjoyed camping and wintering in warmer climates as a “snow bird.”

Ray was a great father and grandfather to all of his family, including his step family.

Ray is survived by his wife Rose of Bridgeport; children Shelley (Brice) Kaufman of Alliance, NE, Steve (Marva) Hutchinson of Bridgeport, and Pam Derma of Winterhaven, CA; step children Sandra (Paul) Palmer of Opal, WY, Betty Blanton of Bridgeport, and Howard, Jr (Robin) Christensen of Bridgeport; 11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; brother Virgil Hutchinson of Scottsbluff; sisters Marilyn (Bob) La Point of Denver, CO and Carolyn (Glenn) Silvius of Bridgeport; brothers-in-law Glenn Douglas of Bridgeport and Lynn (Rosie) Douglas of Sutherland, NE; sister-in-law Jean McKnight of Grand Island, NE; nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Jo Ann; one step-grandson; brother and sister-in-law Kenneth and Lois Hutchinson; sisters-in-law Janice Hutchinson, Lynda Halcott, Audrey Copley, and Shirley Burnette; and brother-in-law Albert McKnight.