Mary Louise Gilmore was born January 15, 1937, in Wagoner, OK to wonderful parents, Jim and Velma (Goodpaster) Gilmore.  She had two older brothers, John Loye and Jimmie Dale, and one younger sister Alice Rhea.

Mary Lou was proud to be named after both grandmothers, Mary Goodpaster and Mary Gilmore Ham.

Mary Lou grew up on a farm her parents owned about five miles northwest of Wagoner.

She attended one-room schools at Pleasant Valley and then walked 2 ½ miles to Pleasant View through 7th grade.  She graduated from Wagoner High School in 1953 at the age of 16.

Mary Lou worked for Attorneys Charles Watts, Earl Youree, and John M.  Gephart for several years.

On June 12, 1954, she married Billy Jack Hutchens of Mazie, OK and they celebrated 69 years together.

A special Christmas gift arrived in December 1965 when their son Billy Don was born.  Then to complete their family in December 1969 a baby girl Jamie Louise was born.

They were blessed with their first grandchild in April 1989 when Billy Dewayne arrived.  To keep him company in April 1992 their next grandson Brennen Dane arrived, sons of Billy Don and Lisa Sand Hutchens.

Jamie added to the grandsons when Rhett Allen Sells was born in July 1997, father, Shane Sells.

Billy Don and his wife Kristie Richmond Hutchens blessed them with their first granddaughter when Shelby Dee arrived January 15, 2009.  Shelby was born on her grandmother's birthday.  Mary Lou said this was the best gift she ever received.

Their 3 great-granddaughters arrived, Brynlei in August 2017, Bristol in July 2019, and Braelyn in October 2020, daughters of Brennen and Becca Hutchens.

The first great-grandson Billy James Dean arrived in September 2021, son of Billy and Stephanie Hutchens.  They were all happy to have the fifth Billy in the family, baby, daddy, 2 grandpas, and great grandpa.

Mary Lou said her children, grandchildren great-grandchildren, and love for the family were the joys of her life.

As everyone knows, she enjoyed rocking and listening to "Good" Country and Gospel Music.

Mary Lou was a member of the Immanuel Baptist Church and attended for many years, after her health kept her home, she enjoyed Cowboy Church on TV.

Mary Lou is survived by a son, Billy Don; daughter, Jamie Louise; grandchildren, Billy and wife Stephanie, Brennen and wife Becca, Shelby, and Rhett; great-grandchildren, Brynlei, Bristol, Braelyn, and Billy James Dean; sister, Alice Dunaway of Jenks, OK; sister-in-law, Ruby Taylor of Wagoner, OK; and several nieces, nephew, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Mary Lou was predeceased by her father, Jim; and mother, Velma; brothers, John Loye and Jimmie Dale; grandparents, Jesse and Mary Goodpaster, Mary Ann Gilmore Ham; daughter-in-law, Kristie Richmond Hutchens; sisters-in-law, Mary Evelyn Gilmore and Geneva Gilmore; and brother-in-law, Harold Dunaway; and her husband, Billy Jack Hutchens.

Pallbearers: Grandsons, Billy Hutchens, Brennen Hutchens, Rhett Sells; and granddaughter, Shelby Hutchens; nephews, Roger Dunaway and Steve Dunaway of Jenks, OK.

Burial at Elmwood Cemetery, Wagoner, OK.

The family will greet friends and relatives at a Visitation on Thursday, June 13, 2024, from 5-7 p.m. in the Chapel of Mallett Funeral Home and Crematory.

A Celebration of Life, honoring the Life of Mary Lou Hutchens will be held on Friday, June 14, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Mallett Funeral Home and Crematory.