Mary Anne Hutson

Mary Anne Hutson entered this life on June 30, 1954 as Mary Anne Samsel. She was born and raised in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where she met her husband Dan in 1976 when she was in her early 20's. They were married the same year they met and one year into marriage had their first child Ryan Daniel in May of 1977. Ryan was born with many difficulties and was hospital bound for 3 months in Utah. Eventually he was sent home for hospice care. What was unexpected by the doctors was the incredible care that Mary Anne would provide for him. She was nurturing and in Dan's words she "provided supernatural care." Though very young still, responsibility was thrust upon Mary Anne and she embraced it with open arms. Dan's job in vocational rehab often took him traveling and they were required to spend days apart where she would be the sole care provider for their son. By September of 1977, Dan accepted a new position in Alaska, where they discovered that there were not many resources available for parents with disabled children, so Dan and Mary Anne became involved in the State Developmental Disabilities Organization. They attempted to meet with the director but were not able to get very far. So Mary Anne hatched a plan. On a Friday afternoon she simply showed up at his office and offered to leave Ryan in the directors care for the weekend!

Apparently, Mary Anne new how to advocate!

By early 1978, Mary Anne was pregnant with their second child, Jessica. Being advised by doctors that Ryan would need 24 hour care and desiring to be wholly available to Jessica, Dan and Mary Anne went on a 2 year search for the kind of facility that would meet the needs of Ryan. Finding that there were not adequate facilities, Mary Anne gathered some friends and went to the state legislature and wrote a grant request for a start-up facility to care for severely handicapped children. Her hard work paid off and she was awarded $200,000 which funded the beginning of an organization called CHILD. This facility provided parental support, research, and respite care for families with developmentally challenged children. Currently, there are over 200 employees in this organization. And it all started with Mary Anne - a fierce mom.

Their time in Alaska came to an end in November of 1980. God had opened a door at a facility for Ryan in Portland, Oregon and employment for Dan in Medford. Jessica was just two years old at the time and they made their way to Southern Oregon. Here the family would expand and endure together some of the highest highs and the lowest lows.

Emily Marie was added to the family in 1981.

Ryan went home to be with the Lord in November of 1982.

Sarah was added to the family in 1984. Tragically, she was taken just a year later in April of 1985. It was part of Dan and Mary Anne's final wish that Sarah would be laid to rest with them upon their own passing. So today, along with Mary Anne, Sarah will find her resting place next to her mother. Sarah Alice Hutson was the angelic daughter of Dan and Mary Anne. Sarah came to the Hutson family a few short years after the loss of their son Ryan. Though her time here on earth was short, she brought both joy and healing to those around her. Sarah passed into the arms of her Heavenly Father on April 30, 1985.

In August of 1988, Rebekah Grace was added to the family and the Hutson home was full.

Though life was never easy for Mary Anne, her strong faith sustained her through the loss of two children and her own health challenges and obstacles, she found great joy in life.

Mary Anne is survived by her husband, Danny R. Hutson; daughter and son in law, Jessi and Nathan Willard, daughter and son in law, Emily and Erik Christie and daughter and son in law Becky and Tony Abbott. She is survived by her nine grandchildren, Ben, Donnelly, Liam, Cosette, Desmond, Cillian, Maryalice, Jude and Clara Jo.