Nila Joan Jones Hutson, 84, of Huntsville, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 21, 2018.
She was born on April 12, 1934 in Fort Madison, Iowa to Freida Katherine and Mark Howall Jones. Joan and her sister, Nancy grew up singing duets and playing the piano. She was also in the National Honor Society, participated in “Rainbow Girls”, marched in the Kilties at football games, was queen of the annual Fort Madison Relays, and spent a summer studying art in Chautauqua, New York. After high school, Joan graduated from Burlington Beauty College and opened her own beauty shop.
On June 14, 1953, Joan married her high school sweetheart, Edgar Dale Hutson. They moved to Huntsville in 1963 where Joan was a dedicated mother raising three children. For many years they were members of the Latham United Methodist Church where Joan sang in the choir, taught Bible school, and worked with children’s choirs. She was also an accomplished artist and participated for many years in the Huntsville Art League. She enjoyed volunteering as a docent for the Huntsville Museum of Art. Joan used her talents to author and illustrate a cookbook, “Heirlooms From the Kitchen”, of old family recipes and helpful kitchen hints.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Edgar Dale Hutson of Huntsville; son, Leslie Dale Hutson of Scottsboro; daughters, Cathy Hutson Jowers of Rabun Gap, GA, and Deborah Hutson Bagdigian of Huntsville; sister, Nancy Anderson of Henderson, NV; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 4, 2018 at Aldersgate Methodist Church, with a visitation beginning at 1:30. Memorial contributions may be made to Kindred Hospice (www.kindredhospice.com) or Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org).
