Skip to content

Obituary -Marion Housch Hutcheson



Marion Louise Hutcheson, a Rossville, Ga., resident, who along with her late husband, John L. Hutcheson, Jr., and daughter Marion “Bit” Hutcheson, established Happy Valley Farms and made it into a world class American Saddlebred nursery and training facility which still thrives today. The grand lady of the big house, as the main residence on the historic Rossville farm is commonly referred to, passed away Sunday, May 2. She was born in Chickamauga, the second of five children on April 20, 1914 to Pearl Cunningham Housch and Walter Matthew Housch who was a cotton buyer for Crystal Springs Bleachery.

Graduating in 1931, Mrs. Hutcheson was the first recognized class valedictorian of Gordon Lee High School in Chickamauga. She was later awarded the school’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. Mrs. Hutcheson graduated with honors from Edmonson Business College in Chattanooga.

Professionally, she served the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce for 14 years. Mrs. Hutcheson chose to follow her father into the textile trade by taking a position with Peerless Woolen Mills. It is there where she met her future husband.

Mrs. Hutcheson’s civic activities were numerous. Hutcheson Medical Center Foundation benefited from her position on its board. As President of Chambliss Children’s Home, she played an integral role in its building campaign. A member of Chattanooga’s First Presbyterian Church, she volunteered in its Changed Lives ministry. As a patron and donor she supported Chattanooga’s Symphony and Opera, Allied Arts, as well as Chattanooga State’s music program. Always an active reader, board membership at Rossville Library enabled her to raise funds to insure its continued operation.

Mrs. Hutcheson enjoyed being outside as witnessed by the recreational activities she chose: gardening, fishing, hunting, and touring. In recent years with the assistance of her nurse and driver, Billie Friddell, she brought many a smile to the faces of friends and family when her green “88” arrived.

Preceding her in death were Mrs. Hutcheson’s husband, John L. Hutcheson, Jr., her parents, a sister, two brothers, step-sons John L. Hutcheson III, and Theodore M. Hutcheson, a well as a step-daughter Hazel Meadow. She is survived by a sister Mitilda H. Benton, daughter Marion (Bit) Hutcheson, step-son W. Frank Hutcheson, numerous nephews, nieces, grand children and great grand children.

The funeral will be Thursday, May 6 at the residence where visitation will be held Wednesday, May 5 from 6-8 p.m. The Rev. Ken Camp will officiate. Burial will follow in Forest Hills Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Rossville Public Library and Hutcheson Medical Center. Arrangements are by Wann Funeral Home.

More Stories