William Hutcherson of Fordland, Missouri was born on December 13, 1947 on an air force base in Wyoming to James T. and Frances (Williams) Hutcherson. He grew up the only beleaguered brother amongst three sisters. He is survived by his wife Susan; daughter Gina (granddog Stan); son Keith (Kara); grandson Gavin; sisters Rae, Susan, and Madelyn; and stepdaughters and partners and step grandchildren.

William led a full life, blessed with a wife and children who loved him and whom he loved in return. He worked hard. William graduated from Southwest Missouri State University in 1975 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. He was employed by Southwestern Bell Telephone for over 25 years and retired at 55. He spent the next 20 years as a gentleman farmer—raising beef, milking jersey cows, tending a rather large garden, fixing fence, planting trees, and chasing chickens. He singlehandedly built numerous structures on the farm, including chicken coops and pens, greenhouses, storage sheds, and a rental house.

William was social and jovial, enjoying the company of many old and new friends whether in fraternal organizations, or more recently, at C-Street Farmer's Market selling beef and plants where his family always suspected he was more interested in socializing than selling.

He had a giving heart and was a faithful volunteer over the years with charitable organizations. He taught carpentry to cancer patients at Camp Bluebird and called bingo at Sertoma Club fundraisers. He and his wife created and hosted fundraisers for various local animal welfare organizations ranging from full-on festivals in the park to glamorous high-teas and dinners in their Victorian home, raising many, many thousands of dollars. At election time, he volunteered as a poll worker. William was the first to offer a hand to those in need, he never minded to share a tool or his skills or show up to do the heavy lifting.

William traveled widely in his retirement. He saw the pyramids in Egypt, the Nile by moonlight, strolled the Christmas Market by the Rhine, watched a glacier calve in Alaska, voyaged across the wide Atlantic to England and Ireland, and boarded the Queen Mary to Quebec and took a train across Canada (not all on one trip).

In November 2017, he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He fought the cruel illness with courage and bravery twice--with rarely a complaint--and was enjoying life cancer-free for 3 ½ years at the time of his passing.

William was a good man and will be missed by those who knew him. A celebration of life in his home on the farm he loved is planned for the spring when the flowers he tended are in bloom.

In his memory, please consider signing up as a stem cell donor at https://bethematch.org , or helping animals with a donation to RescueOne at https://rescueonespringfield.com . Online condolences may be made at www.gormanscharpf.com.