Obituary of Martha Jane Hutcherson

Martha Jane Hutcherson died on Dec. 27 at The HomePlace in Midway following a short illness. She was 90.

The widow of J. Kelley Hutcherson, she is survived by daughter Kate Robie (and her husband, Ed) of Versailles; daughter Eve Hutcherson of Nashville; and son John K. Hutcherson Jr. (and his wife, Maggie) of Versailles. She is also survived by six grandchildren--Amanda Sayles, Jack Robie, Annie Hutcherson, Meg Robie, Kelley Price, and Emily Davis—and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by daughter Jane Hutcherson Purpus of Bowling Green.

Martha Jane was born in Pineville, Ky., the daughter of Harry M. and Martha Mitchell Carr. She was a 1948 graduate of Atherton High School in Louisville and a 1952 graduate of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College (now Randolph College) in Lynchburg, Va. She lived in Louisville for many years, then made her home in Versailles since 1975. Martha Jane was the author of six books, including a children’s version of the story of historic hero Jack Jouett, which has been reprinted several times. She published three volumes of poetry, a book of essays about her family’s experiences on Lake Cumberland, a memoir of her childhood in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, and she contributed a historic exploration of Woodford County social life for the County’s bicentennial celebration publication. Martha Jane was a member of Versailles Presbyterian Church, a devoted member of the Woodford Gardeners for more than a half-century, and a volunteer at the Woodford Humane Society and Meals on Wheels.

The family extends warm thanks to the staffs of The HomePlace at Midway and Daisy Hill Senior Living in Versailles for their compassionate support over the past few years.

Burial will be at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville on Monday, Jan. 3, at 11 a.m. Visitation will be held on Jan. 3 at Versailles Presbyterian Church on Main St. from 3-4:30 p.m., followed by the funeral service at 4:30.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be sent to Woodford Humane Society or the Versailles Presbyterian Church.