Evelyn Pratt Hutchinson
March 17, 1927 — November 28, 2024
Evelyn “Lynne” Hutchinson was born Evelyn Mae Pratt in Fresno, California in March of 1927, to Harold W. and Marguerite Mouren Pratt. Her family lived on the outskirts of Fresno, never in the city, because “Daddy always had about 500 pigeons that he raced from anywhere north of us, far as the Oregon border, to home.” Both her parents were born in the area to early settlers of California, and she was proud to be a 4th generation Californian on both sides of her family. She was a young teen when WW II broke out, and she contributed to the effort by learning to drive, and working as a delivery girl for the local pharmacy, driving the Model A Ford all over town when not helping in the store. Having graduated from high school before the war ended, she matriculated to UCLA in 1946 where she became involved in sorority life and learned to love the southern California lifestyle. She met her husband, Charles Hutchinson, during those sorority/fraternity activities, and they married in 1948. Working at the college library during the first years of married life, she and Chuck settled in Maywood and Cudahy. With a growing family, they bought a house in the growing town of Downey, raised their 4 children, and stayed the rest of their lives there.
Lynne became involved with community groups and service early, a member of the Women’s Club and Children’s Home Society, which she served as president in the early 1960s. Her love of bridge kept her in touch with friends all over Downey and she was known as a skilled player, winning many local tournaments. Running her household of 4 children, who were all involved in Scouting and school activities, working as a secretary in her husband Charles’s office, and visiting her Central Valley family regularly, kept her busy. She joined Assistance League of Downey in the 1970s and was most proud of her accomplishments there- heavily involved in the start of their thrift shop and as president, helping cement the purchase of their property on Downey Avenue for said shop.
That was about the time Lynne and Chuck began traveling, as their children moved on to college and began lives of their own. They traveled extensively all over the world, from Nome, Alaska to the Antarctic, Russia and China soon after they opened to the world, nearly all of Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, Chile, and every one of the 50 United States. Lynne’s love of genealogy took her to countless small towns, churches, and county seats all over the US and Europe, in search of verification of birth, death, and marriage dates. She was able to document her French Alpine heritage back to the 900s AD, due to the families staying in their villages of birth for generation after generation over hundreds of years.
Lynne will be missed most by her family and extended relations, having hosted so many large family dinners and gatherings through the years at their home in Downey or their weekend beach house. She is survived by her four children, eleven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren- son Charles R. “Rick” Hutchinson and wife Sharon of Clovis CA, son Kenneth H. Hutchinson and wife Ann of Downey CA, daughter Nancy (Hutchinson) Brubaker and husband David of Los Altos CA, and son Thomas S. Hutchinson of Downey CA.
Condolences for the family can be sent through our website.
Lynne became involved with community groups and service early, a member of the Women’s Club and Children’s Home Society, which she served as president in the early 1960s. Her love of bridge kept her in touch with friends all over Downey and she was known as a skilled player, winning many local tournaments. Running her household of 4 children, who were all involved in Scouting and school activities, working as a secretary in her husband Charles’s office, and visiting her Central Valley family regularly, kept her busy. She joined Assistance League of Downey in the 1970s and was most proud of her accomplishments there- heavily involved in the start of their thrift shop and as president, helping cement the purchase of their property on Downey Avenue for said shop.
That was about the time Lynne and Chuck began traveling, as their children moved on to college and began lives of their own. They traveled extensively all over the world, from Nome, Alaska to the Antarctic, Russia and China soon after they opened to the world, nearly all of Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, Chile, and every one of the 50 United States. Lynne’s love of genealogy took her to countless small towns, churches, and county seats all over the US and Europe, in search of verification of birth, death, and marriage dates. She was able to document her French Alpine heritage back to the 900s AD, due to the families staying in their villages of birth for generation after generation over hundreds of years.
Lynne will be missed most by her family and extended relations, having hosted so many large family dinners and gatherings through the years at their home in Downey or their weekend beach house. She is survived by her four children, eleven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren- son Charles R. “Rick” Hutchinson and wife Sharon of Clovis CA, son Kenneth H. Hutchinson and wife Ann of Downey CA, daughter Nancy (Hutchinson) Brubaker and husband David of Los Altos CA, and son Thomas S. Hutchinson of Downey CA.
Condolences for the family can be sent through our website.
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