Morris B. Hutchins Obituary (1913

WESTBROOK - Reverend Morris B. Hutchins, 86, of The Hamlet, entered into the presence of his Lord after several months of declining health, Sunday, April 18, 1999 at Cedars Nursing Care Center in Portland. Born in South Windham, April 15, 1913, he was the son of Morris B. and Alice Walker Hutchins. Due to his father's death in January of 1913, Mr. Hutchins was raised by his mother, in the home of his aunt and uncle, Mary and Calvin Young. He attended Windham grade schools and was a 1930 graduate of Westbrook High School. He later graduated from Maine School of Commerce, Portland. On September 17, 1939 he married Phyllis M. Winn at the Glenwood Square Baptist Church in Portland.In the early years of his career, Mr. Hutchins worked as a photographer with the Portland Press Herald and later as a welder at the South Portland Shipyard. Enlisting in the U.S. Army in May of 1943, after completing basic training at Camp Stewart, Georgia, he served as a Staff Sergeant with the 198th Photo Signal Corps, covering both the European and Pacific theaters during World War II. Returning to civilian life, Mr. Hutchins worked several years as a bus driver with the Portland Coach Company. During that same period he was an active member of the Glenwood Square Baptist Church, participating often as a lay minister and Sunday school teacher. Mr. Hutchins often recounted the story, "I was called by God, one Sunday morning, from the pew to the pulpit." On that Sunday he was asked to preach at the Whites Corner Baptist Church in New Gloucester and ultimately served as full time pastor of that church for the next four years. From 1957 to 1963 he served as pastor of the West Harpswell Baptist Church where, in 1958, he was ordained. While in Harpswell he was instrumental in opening and served as pastor of the First Free Will Baptist Church at Growstown in Brunswick, which had been closed several years. In 1963 he moved to Aroostook County, where he pastored the Bridgewater Free Will Baptist Church until 1969. From 1969 until his retirement in 1986, Mr. Hutchins served the Stroudwater Baptist Church in Portland.After retiring from the full time ministry, he served as interim pastor at the United Baptist Church of Lakeport in Laconia, NH, West Harpswell Baptist Church and Central Square Baptist Church in Portland. He was an ardent supporter of, and served many years on the Board of Directors of the Maine Christian Civic League. During the 1970s, he served as a crisis counselor with Rescue, Inc. in Portland and, for several years, was an active member of the Portland Chapter of Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International. At the time of his death he was a member of the Stroudwater Baptist Church, Portland, and in 1993 was named Pastor Emeritus of that church. Mr. Hutchins is remembered by his family as a loving husband, dad and grandfather. In earlier years he enjoyed hunting on Quaker Ridge in Casco and fishing. He particularly enjoyed the annual 'Walker Family Reunions'; and at the 1998 reunion was honored as the oldest living descendant in attendance at the reunion. Besides his wife of 60 years, Mr. Hutchins is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Walker and Ann Hutchins of Rockland; his daughter and son-in-law Alista and Wilfred Thibeau of Westbrook; four grandchildren, Lanci Hodgkin, Rebecca Thibeau, J'Anna Hutchins, Melissa Hutchins; four great-grandchildren; three nephews, George Foster, Harry and Hubert Libby and two nieces, Lorna Noble and Connie Erickson. Visiting hours will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 21, at the Stroudwater Baptist Church, 1729 Congress Street, Portland, where a celebration of his life and home-going will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday. The Reverends Donald Drake and Paul Rummery will officiate. Interment will be in the Murch Cemetery, Casco. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Stroudwater Baptist Church, 1729 Congress Street, Portland, Maine 04102. 2b:[] 2e:{"type"