Billy Jack Hutchens was born September 30, 1936 to Effie Horn Hutchens and Odus Leo Hutchens. Billy had three sisters, Ellen and the twins, Ruth and Ruby, and one brother, Modrel, to help take care of Billy and spoil him.

Billy grew up on a farm east of Mazie, OK. He attended grade school in Mazie and high school in nearby Chouteau, where he graduated from high school in 1954, with the help of basketball. From 1958 until 1964 Billy served in the U. S. Air Force and the Air Force Reserves.

His first work experiences were at Spartans in Tulsa and Rogers Wholesale Plumbing in Wagoner. His experience at Rogers was good training for his career as a truck driver for Ellsworth, Chemical Express in Pryor and Liquid Carbonic and Praxair in Verdigris. His career spanned from 1964 until 1996. He then retired after driving a truck for 37 years and over 3 million logged miles.

Billy Jack married the former Mary Lou Gilmore of Wagoner on June 12, 1954 in Pryor, OK. They began a close and loving marriage that lasted for 69 years and 9 months.

Family was always of utmost importance to both Billy and Mary Lou. They were blessed with two children, their son, Billy Don, born December 1965 and their daughter, Jamie Louise, born December, 1969. Through time the couple welcomed the next several generations as their family grew.

Billy Don and his wife, Lisa Sand Hutchens, began the next generation, the grandchildren, with the birth of their two sons, Billy Dewayne in April, 1989 and Brennen Dane in April, 1992. The third grandson came along when Jamie and Shane Sells had Rhett Allen, born in July, 1997. Then in January, 2009 Billy Don and wife Kristie blessed everyone with a baby girl, Shelby Dee Hutchens, born on her grandmother's birthday.

The generation of great-grandchildren began with Brennen and Becca having their daughters, Brynlei Dae in August, 2017, Bristol Avery in July, 2019, and Braelyn Shae in October, 2020.  They were all happy to welcome the first great-grandson, Billy James Dean, son of Billy and Stephanie, when he arrived in September, 2021. He was the fifth Billy in the family: baby Billy; his dad Billy; two grandpas Billy; and great-grandpa Billy.

Billy loved his family and was proud to pick up all his grandchildren from school and take them to practice and games.

The family enjoyed many good trips to the lake, camping, fishing, swimming, skiing and boating. They also took trips to South Texas to pick fruit. Everyone looked forward to a day in Mexico.

Billy enjoyed woodworking and made many nice items for the family to enjoy. He helped build his first and last homes in Wagoner, even bricking the house by himself. He dug the cellar by hand with a pick and shovel.

Billy and Mary Lou attended Immanuel Baptist Church for several years and liked watching the Cowboy Church on TV the last few years.

Billy Jack departed this life at his home, surrounded by his loving family, on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at the age of 87 years. He was preceded in death by his father, Odus Leo Hutchens, mother, Effie Horn Hutchens; sisters, Ellen Hutchens Wood and Ruth Hutchens Horton; brother, Modrel Hutchens; and daughter-in-law, Kristie Richmond Hutchens.

Survivors left to cherish his memory are his wife, Mary Lou Hutchens; son, Billy Don Hutchens; daughter, Jamie Hutchens; grandsons, Billy Hutchens and wife, Stephanie, Brennen Hutchens and wife, Becca, and Rhett Sells; granddaughter, Shelby Hutchens; great-granddaughters, Brynlie, Bristol, and Braelyn Hutchens; great-grandson, Billy James Dean Hutchens; sister, Ruby Taylor; nephews, nieces, cousins; and many other relatives and friends.

A Viewing will be held on Sunday, March 17, 2024, in the Chapel of Mallett Funeral Home and Crematory, from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Family will great friends and relatives at a Visitation, on Sunday, March 17, 2024, from 3-5 p.m., in the Chapel of Mallett Funeral Home and Crematory.

A Celebration of Life, honoring the Life of Billy Jack Hutchens will be held on Monday, March 18, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Mallett Funeral Home and Crematory in Wagoner, OK.

Interment will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Wagoner, OK.