Jerry William Hutchinson

Jerry W. Hutchinson, 87, passed away on June 6, 2025.  He was born in Kansas City Kansas to LeRoy and Minnie Bell Hutchinson and moved to Gresham, Oregon as a youth and later to Washington State where they lived near Sawyer. 

He grew up along the Yakima River, with his five brothers and two sisters.  He went to Outlook Elementary School, where he first met Frances Flett.  After completing his education in the Eighth grade, he went to work in his families wrecking yard.  He and Frances connected once again when Frances was in High School and they married on January 14, 1956 at the Free Methodist Church in Grandview.  Colleen, Jerry Jr. and Julie came along and completed their family.

He then went to work driving a semi-truck for Brader Hauling and later for Specialized Trucking Service.  He bought his first truck (# 6) in 1973 and started Jerry W. Hutchinson Trucking.  Over the next few years, he built up his trucking business and bought several more trucks.

After renting shop space to work on his trucks, he bought property and built his beloved shop in Sunnyside.  The trucking business was a family affair with Frances keeping the books, Jerry working on the trucks, and Colleen and Julie working the office.

In 1993 he and Jerry Jr. became partners in JNJ Construction and added road construction, site preparation, and the installation of water and sewer lines to their business resume.

In 2019, He and Frances semi retired but Jerry would still go down to the shop to tinker around and help Jerry Jr. with various projects.

Jerry enjoyed many activities throughout his life, most of them revolving around his family and friends.  The family went camping, snowmobiling, huckleberry picking and along with Jerry Jr. they built sand rails and tore up the dunes at Florence Oregon.  He and Frances would take their motorhome to many places on their various trips, the coast was a favorite along with California and Arizona and even through Death Valley.  France and Jerry also took a trip in the semi to Alaska to sell produce and see the sights.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Roy, Jack, Pat and Mike, and his sisters Doris and Minni Bell.  He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Frances, his children, Colleen (Don) Flemming, Jerry (Donna) Hutchinson, Julie (Larry) Grimmius and his brother Richard (Elaine) Hutchinson and Sister in-law Delores Hutchinson.  He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Amanda, Katie, Kyle, Jenny, Nathan, Emily, and Andy and 12 great grandchildren, Hailey, Kamielle, Cameron, Brooklyn, Landon, Liam, Piper, Sterling, Teddy, Derek, Marilyn, and Andrew. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Viewing and visitation will be held on Sunday, June 15, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Smith Funeral Home, Sunnyside, WA.  Funeral Service will be held on Monday, June 16, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at the Smith Funeral Home, Sunnyside, WA  with burial to follow at the Lower Valley Memorial Gardens, Sunnyside, WA.  Those wishing to sign Jerry's online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com  Smith Funeral Home is in care of arrangements. 

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