James David "J.D." Hutsell

J.D. Hutsell was born on August 1, 1931, into the Wright County home of Everett Elmo Hutsell and Audrey (Young) Hutsell. He was named James David after both of his grandfathers and to be fair to both, he has always been known as J.D. He grew up with five siblings, his brothers, Harlin and Hulen and his three sisters, Virlee, Vera and Valera. He lived in Wright County most of his life on the Hutsell Century Farm, his home until he passed away on September 21, 2019, at the Hartville Care Center at 88 years of age.

J.D. attended Hopkins School, grades 1-8, and Mountain Grove High School, grades 9-12 where, among other activities, he played football. After graduating from high school in 1949, he attended Southwest Missouri State University (currently MSU) for two years before joining the United States Air Force. He served in the Air Force for four years. It was during his time of service that he met and married his bride of 63 years, Wilma (O’Shieles) Hutsell. J.D. and Wilma lived in Texas after J.D.’s honorable discharge from the Air Force and began work in the shoe business. It was during this time that their first son, David, was born.

J.D. and Wilma moved to Manhattan, Kansas, and lived there a few years while he worked in the shoe business and she taught elementary school. Their only daughter, Denise, was born during their time in Kansas.

In 1964, J.D.’s father was retiring from farming and let his boys know that he was going to sell the farm unless one of them wanted to return home and manage the family farm. J.D. and his young family returned to Wright County to the Hutsell farm. A couple of years later, their son, Derrick, was born. It was on the family farm that J.D. and Wilma raised their family and where he lived out the rest of his life. The family farm has been a beloved place of many family gatherings and the making of wonderful memories as the Hutsell family extended into two more generations.

His personal relationship with Jesus Christ and his growing faith was the source of J.D.’s joy, strength, integrity, hope and purpose. He served the Lord through his home church, Friendship Baptist Church, as a Sunday School teacher until his health failed. He served as a trustee at Friendship Church and was on the Friendship Cemetery Board for many years. He was a Gideon, representing and speaking for the Gideon Bible ministry in many churches on many occasions. He served many years on the board of the Wright County Children’s Home.

A strong work ethic was a vital essence of J.D.’s life. He truly loved the hard work on the farm where he raised beef cattle and ran a dairy farm for many years with his sons, David and Derrick. He also served on the Wright County Soil and Water Board for over 40 years. He also represented the Farm Bureau in many state meetings.

J.D. was elected and served as the Wright County Clerk for 16 years. He was recognized by the Missouri House of Representatives for outstanding service to his county and state. He was also a member of the Hartville V.F.W. and received the Good Year Conservation Award of Merit.

From his early childhood, J.D. was taught great values of how to work, treat others, take care of his family and respect others. He lived out those precious and powerful values everyday.

Besides his parents, J.D. was preceded in death by his brothers Harlin and Hulen Hutsell, his sisters Virlee Cardin and Valera Blackwell, brothers-in-law, Eugene Austin, Audie Cardin, James Blackwell and Ken Stuart, nephews Greg Cardin, Walter Snitkin Jr., Kyle Hutsell and Danny Cardin, sisters-in-law, Jeanette Hutsell and Sue O'Shieles.

He is survived by his wife, Wilma, of their home, his sons, David Hutsell and his wife, Tamme, of Hartville, Missouri, Derrick Hutsell and his wife, Cindy, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, his daughter, Denise Richardson and her husband, Curtis, of Overland Park, Kansas, seven granddaughters, Jennifer Barry and her husband, Shawn, of Ozark, Missouri, Ashley Shrimpton and her husband, Brad, of Overland Park, Kansas, Andrea Larson and her husband, Lucas, of Merriam, Kansas, Angela Greenlee and her husband, Joshua, of Overland Park, Kansas, Kelsie Hutsell, Kamryn Hutsell and Kyla Hutsell of Willard, Missouri, three grandsons, Zachary Hutsell and his wife, Victoria, of Hartville, Missouri, Jared Hutsell and his wife, Chelsey, of Mountain Grove, Missouri, Jace Hutsell of Mountain Grove, Missouri, great granddaughters, Lauren Barry, Selah Shrimpton, Hailey Hutsell, Lua Greenlee and Olivia Hutsell, great grandsons, Easton and Wyatt Barry, and Solomon Shrimpton, his sister, Vera Austin of Mountain Grove, Missouri, sisters-in-law, Mary Stuart of Austin,Texas, and Edwina Hutsell of Mountain Grove, Missouri, brother-in-law, R. L. “Bud” O’Shieles and wife, Vicki, of Marble Falls, Texas, many nieces, nephews and friends. J.D. Hutsell will be dearly missed by those who knew him and loved him.