Hardy Kenneth Hutchison's Obituary
Hardy Kenneth (Ken) Hutchison (Lakeland, FL & Milton, FL) was born April 29, 1945, in Panama City. He passed October 13 at age 73 from pneumonia after a battle with dementia.
A 1963 graduate of Lakeland High School, Ken enlisted in the Army in 1965 and was commissioned an officer in the artillery, serving from 1967-1969. He received a bachelors from Florida Southern College and a masters of education from Central Missouri State University. Ken was a teacher at Scott Lake Elementary and Headmaster and Head Coach at Georgetown Academy in Georgetown, MS. In 1978, he began working at Publix Supermarkets in Lakeland, retiring in 2008.
Ken was immensely proud of his children and absolutely adored his grandchildren and his grand-dogs. He coached multiple sports at the youth, middle school, high school, and college level. He instinctively knew the right positions for players and how to motivate them.
Ken enjoyed painting, bird-watching, sporting events, and spent many years power-walking the sidewalks of South Lakeland.
Ken was predeceased by his parents, Hardy and Kathleen, sister Paula, and brother Roger.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Carolyn Sue Morton of Lakeland and Milton; son Kevin (Amanda) of Madison, AL, and daughter Ashley of Phoenix, AZ; his grandchildren Caitlin (University of Alabama) and Ryan (University of North Alabama); his brother, Mike of Cape Coral, and his sister, Kathryn Gray of Auburndale; brother-in-law Jerry (Julie) Morton of Lakeland and sister-in-law Pat Griffey of Pensacola; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Services will be Saturday, October 20th at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 5850 Lakeland Highlands Rd, Lakeland, FL 33813. Visitation at 9:30 a.m. and funeral services follow at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://act.alz.org) or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (https://fightcf.cff.org).
What’s your fondest memory of Hardy?
What’s a lesson you learned from Hardy?
Share a story where Hardy's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Hardy you’ll never forget.
How did Hardy make you smile?
