Dorothy Collins Hutchinson Sowards, 93, most beloved mother of Louise, Bill, Marty, and Libby, stepmother to Jack, Drew, and Paul left this earth on November 20th, 2018, to be with her Lord and Savior. There at Heaven's Gate to greet Mother was George D. "Jack" Hutchinson (our dad) and his sons, Bob and Richard; her stepmother Edna Collins; her beloved second husband Cecil Sowards and her only sibling, Clark Collins Jr., whom she loved beyond all measure. Mother was born in Red Jacket, W.V to Clark Collins Sr. and Allie Collins on March 5th, 1925. Mother fondly remembered being called, "Ms. Allie's little girl" by those folks in the coal fields where she was raised. Our Mom couldn't tell us much about our Grandmother Allie, as she died when Mom was only a little girl, but we are comforted now to know that Grandmother Allie is there in heaven ready to greet Mom with open arms for a glorious reunion.
Our mom was a wonderful mother and mother-in-law, always adopting our spouses. These lucky children include Jack and the late Betty Hutchinson, of Warren, Michigan, Louise and Eugene Taylor of Huntington, William (Bill) and Loralee Hutchinson of Gainesville, Florida, George (Marty) and Rhonda Hutchinson of South Point, Ohio, and Elizabeth (Libby) and Thomas Bosley of Huntington. Dorothy has twenty-two grandchildren (Scott, Megan, Jennifer Gorham, Meredith, Rebecca, Marty, Tim, Eric, Matt, Tony, Lisa, Susan, Jennifer Hinson, Meghan, Rob, Jackie, Irene, Mark, Amy, Kent, Joshua, and Lori). There are also thirty-four great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren who make up our very large family, as diverse as there are ways to be diverse, and yet forever bonded together by the principles of love and respect that have been instilled in all of us by our matriarch.
Dorothy grew up poor in the coal fields of southern West Virginia; she had very very little love as a young child and teenager. To say she had a hard life would be understating this fact. But, something changed for her when she gave her life to Christ as a young girl. Her life was still hard, but now she had found a forever friend who never abandoned her and then would work great miracles in her life. Momma wasn't perfect; she made her share of mistakes -as we all do - but she always did her very best and worked very hard. Her rewards on earth were to be showered with love from our family, who drew upon her Christian example to live our own lives. Mom requested a private graveside service; there will be no visitation or public service. If you would like to honor Mom, please do what she would most request, and that is: devote your life in service to Christ, and when your time here on earth is finished, you may hear the words that we know she did:
"Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord".
Chapman's Mortuary, Huntington, is assisting the family.