Raymond Edward "Ray" Hutchison

Sep 3, 1940 -

Aug 3, 2025

Ray Hutchison was born on Sept. 3, 1940, in Hickman County, Tenn., and passed away in Anchorage, Alaska, on Aug. 3, 2025, at the age of 84. He was a longtime Alaskan, moving to Anchorage in 1961. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, from 1-3 p.m., at the Borealis Meeting Room, Crowne Plaza Hotel, 109 W. International Airport Road in Anchorage. Ray was the eldest son of the late Edward B. Hutchison and Cora Lee (Harrington) of Eagle River, Alaska, and was also preceded to eternity by his sister, Joyce Daniel of California. Ray's parents played music wherever they lived, and their band, The Country Rhythm-Aires, performed often in Anchorage and Eagle River in the 1960s. Ray is survived by his brother, Charles Hutchison of Florida; Linda Vitale of California; Shirley Uptegraft of Glennallen; and Tammy Griffin of Anchorage. He is also survived by close friends and neighbors along with a host of other loved ones, former coworkers and customers from his years in the auto service business in Anchorage. Ray's father served in the military and the family lived in a variety of places, including England during the mid-1950s. In 1959, Ray enlisted in the Air Force, serving in Labrador, Canada. Ray was a car guy from an early age and as a teen restored and drove a 1949 Ford, deep blue with white leather seats and flush door handles. Ray also enjoyed coaching softball in Anchorage starting in 1969. In 1992, a local television news program featured Ray speaking out against an injustice, saying what a shame it was that active deployed military would not receive the Alaska Permanent Fund dividend checks that year. Ray's voice was one who helped make a policy change so that military personnel did not lose residency due to deployment. Ray's enduring spirit, his love of Alaska, his love of vintage cars, his love of family and friends, will be missed.