Audrey Priscilla Hutchinson

Audrey Hutchinson was born on April 24, 1929, in Bath, Maine, the beloved daughter of Arthur Wilson and Marion (Pushard) King and died peacefully surrounded by her family on April 22, 2016, just two days shy of her 87th birthday.

The youngest of five children, Audrey spent a lifetime enjoying the beauty of Maine: ice skating as a child in a treasured bright-blue skating outfit, joining the town children for the annual fall haying, and plunging into the icy waters of Popham Beach. Audrey was a varsity basketball player at Morse High School where she graduated early to attend Larson Junior College in New Haven, CT. She then attended Colby College, was on the fencing team and graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Economics.

Audrey started her career at Porteous, Mitchell and Braun as a buyer and part-time model. It is here that she met her husband of 57 years, Scott Hutchinson. As their family grew to include four daughters, they moved to Wildwood Park where she enjoyed her time cooking sunrise breakfasts on the beach, afternoons at the library, and evenings catching fireflies. Self-proclaimed as the “World’s Best Cook,” Audrey taught her daughters the joy of nurturing family and friends through the setting of a table, preparing favorite meals, and drawing people out with artful conversation.

Audrey became an active volunteer in Cumberland and in Portland, supporting a wide variety of projects such as raising money for Dollars for Scholars, taking a lead role in the development of a pond at the Mabel I. Wilson School, and carrying a picket sign (with her daughters) to advocate for the clean up of the “Dump School.” She volunteered at the Prince Memorial Library, contributed to numerous Garden Club beautification projects, and founded and served as President of The Friends of Maine Medical Center for more than a decade. As her in-laws grew older, Audrey shifted her focus from caring for her community to caring for her aging parents.

Along with her husband, Audrey had a large impact on the political climate of Maine. While her husband worked on their campaigns, Audrey hosted numerous benefits for Governor Kenneth Curtis, Senator Edmund Muskie, and Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell bringing her natural grace and beauty, as well as her political savvy, to each occasion. With time, Audrey was able to put those skills to work for two of her favorite Maine politicians: Senator Olympia Snow and Senator Susan Collins. Both women enjoyed the relaxed and genuine care they received whenever they came to visit.

Audrey was always up for a game: whether it was cribbage or tennis, bridge or golf, Audrey was a fierce and competent opponent, and her fourteen grandchildren always maneuvered to be on her Tetris team. Audrey’s acumen as a fly-fisher was born on the serene waters of Pierce Pond when she was just a child under the tutelage of her father. She listed Cobb’s Camps as one of her most favorite places and holds the family record for most, and biggest, board fish; a talent that she tried to pass on to her daughters on their annual trips.

Audrey is survived by four daughters: Joy-An O’Neil of New Hampshire, Leigh Hutchinson of Milton, Massachusetts, Jody Skelton of Conway, New Hampshire, and The Reverend Laura Whitmore of Southport, Connecticut, as well as her sons-in-laws; Patrick O’Neil, James LaRochelle, John Skelton, and Paul Whitmore; her grandchildren: Chris, Carey, Tyler and Kelsey O’Neil; Jon, Josette, Lillie, and James LaRochelle; Michael and Rebecca Skelton; and Scott, Aleigha, Audra, and Parker Whitmore. She was pre-deceased by her grandson, James Skelton of Conway, New Hampshire, her husband Scott Hutchinson, as well as her parents, in-laws Scott and Helen Hutchinson, and five siblings; Omar King, Anne King Milliken, Edmund King, Isabelle King Ricker, and Donald King.

While her death has left, what seems to be, an un-fillable hole in the lives of all those who knew her, her compassion, love, grace, joy, and sense of humor has left a legacy that will live on for generations.

A celebration of life will be held at the Litchfield Plains Baptist Church, 56 Plains Rd, Litchfield on Monday, May 2nd at 11:00 am with burial immediately following at the Litchfield Plains Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations will be gratefully appreciated to YMCA Camp Nellie Huckins Scholarship Endowment Fund in memory of James Skelton (camphuckins.com/donate) or to Prince Memorial Library in Cumberland, Maine.

Please visit www.jonesrichandhutchins.com for additional information and to sign Audrey’s online guest book.