Velma Ruth Hutchins

Velma Ruth "Boots" Hutchins April 7, 1913 ~ July 22, 2011 Velma Ruth "Boots" Hutchins passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 22, 2011. She was 98 years old, born April 7, 1913, to William Gladstone and Hazel Ruth (Clapper) Harper in Seattle. Boots was the middle child of seven children, five girls and two boys. The family lived in Los Angeles, CA, Seattle and Spokane. They then settled in the Aeneas Valley in Washington, where her parents homesteaded 40 acres in the early 1900's. They built a one-room cabin, where the nine family members lived. It was while they lived in Aeneas Valley that Boots met her husband to be, Chet, and they were married in 1931. They moved to Centralia, where their daughter, Melanie May, was born in 1932, and son, Chet Jr., in 1935. They moved to Wenatchee in 1938, where they resided the rest of their lives. Boots went to work in 1973, for her son, Chet and wife, Bobbe, at "Don Quixote's Imports." This was her first retail job ever! She loved helping the people and visiting with them. She worked at "Don Quixote's" until 1990, then at their other store "Touches" until 1994. Boots' family was her heart and soul and pride and joy. She was always happiest at family gatherings and her Sunday dinners. Her grandchildren could do no wrong in "Grandma's eyes." She also loved the family homestead, where all of the family spent many summers camping in the woods. Boots is survived by her daughter, Melanie Eakle of Wenatchee; her daughter-in-law, Bobbe of East Wenatchee; her sister, Marjorie Huhn of Tacoma; and her brother, Bill Harper of Walnut Creek, CA. She was preceded in death by her husband, Chet; her son, Chet Jr.; step-son, Bill; parents, William and Hazel Harper; her sisters, Dorothy "Dode" Harrington, Evelyn "Toots" Farver and Gloria Dooley; brother, Ron Harper; seven grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren. The family would like to thank the caregivers of "Oldies But Goodies" Adult Family Home, and the owners, Jason and Julie Morley, for the loving care they showed to Boots, and also the respect they showed for the elderly. Services will be held Friday, September 9, 2011, at 1:00 p.m. at Eastmont Presbyterian Church in East Wenatchee. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society. Arrangements are by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.

Velma Ruth Hutchins

April 7, 1913 - July 22, 2011