Hulen Eugene Hutsell

Hulen Eugene “Gene” Hutsell, son of the late Everett and Audrey (Young) Hutsell, was born on September 3, 1929 in Rayborn, Missouri, and went home to be with the Lord on April 7, 2012 in Mtn. Grove, Missouri. He was 82 years, 7 months and 4 days of age.
Hulen was raised in Wright County and grew up attending the Friendship Baptist Church and had accepted Christ as his Savior at a young age.
He attended the small one room Hopkins School until the eighth grade. He then attended the Mtn. Grove High School and graduated in 1947. During his years in school, Hulen was very active in sports. He was a boxer, played on the football team, and also on the softball team who was sponsored by Kraft Foods. They won the Class A League Championship in 1947. Following graduation, he attended Southwest Missouri State University for several semesters. He was then needed on the farm and returned to Mtn. Grove.
Hulen served his country in the United States Navy and reported to the Great Lakes Naval Station on April 12, 1951. He served during the Korean War and was honorably discharged on April 12, 1955. He then returned to Mtn. Grove and went to work for John Austin Cabinet Shop where he learned the skill of making beautiful furniture. Having developed a love of fine woods, he built several pieces for his family and friends. Shortly after, he found himself working for Floyd Dryer in the shoe business. In 1956, along with Floyd Dryer and Floyd Cardin as partners, Hulen opened his own shoe store in Ponca City, Oklahoma. In 1957 he became sole owner and in 1964 he sold the store and the Western Wear Store.
In February of 1957, he was united in marriage to Cloene Harris and two daughters, Terri Renee and Alisa Gaye, were born to this union. Hulen was later married to Edwina “Winnie” (McFarlin) Heard in August of 1982. This added another daughter, Reneta J. Heard.
Hulen loved to garden and work with plants and flowers. After his stroke in 1986, one of the rehabilitating things he did was to work for the Garden Center in Arlington, Texas. He could pamper rose bushes to prize blooms. Later, he would prepare and plant over 1200 Asparagus plants. Those around him would enjoy the fruits of his labor in early spring each year.
Hulen has always been active in a Baptist Church in each city or state where he resided, whether in Ponca City, Oklahoma, San Antonio Texas, Arlington, Texas or Mtn. Grove, Missouri. He enjoyed teaching Sunday School Classes, from fourth grade children to young adults. He also had a good bass voice and was a part of the church choir in Ponca City, Oklahoma and he was also a member of the Barbershop Group of men.
Besides his parents, Hulen was preceded in death by his older brother: Harlin Hutsell.
He is survived by his loving wife: Winnie Hutsell of their home; his daughters; Terri Renee Goughler and her husband, Rick, and Alisa Gaye Cruce; a step-daughter: Reneta Heard of Springfield, Missouri; three granddaughters: Lesli (Harris) Anguino and her husband, R.D., Shannon (Harris) Richards and her husband, Brent, and Jordan Cruce; one grandson: Cameron Cruce; two great-granddaughters: Baylee Richards and Isabella Anguino; two great-grandsons: Logan Richards and Miguel Anguino, all of Oklahoma; three sisters: Virlee Cardin, Vera Austin, and Valera Blackwell; one brother: J.D. Hutsell and his wife, Wilma; six sisters-in-law: Ouida Mitchell and her husband, Gene of Dallas, Texas, Urah Johnson, Kathryn Hollabough, and Janice Vassigh of Houston, Texas, Betty Brock of Arlington, Texas and Elva Jean Smith of Waller, Texas; numerous nieces; nephews; cousins, loved ones and special friends, Vivian and Norma Shannon, and Jim Anderson.
He will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him.


Funeral Service: Thursday,

April 12, 2012 at 11:00 AM
in the First Baptist Church,

Mtn. Grove.
Visitation: Thursday,
April 12 from 10:00 AM – 11:00
AM in the First Baptist Church.
Burial: Friendship Cemetery