Elaine L. Hutchings

In Loving Memory of Elaine Hutchings

Celebrating a Life Lived with Grace, Humor, and Love

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Elaine Hutchings, who left us on July 1, 2025, at the age of 80. A cherished mother, grandmother, and friend, Elaine was a beacon of love, strength, and kindness to everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.

Elaine was born on May 9, 1945, the daughter of Adah McSweeney Bossart and David Harry Bossart. She grew up on the Western Slope of Colorado, spending much of her childhood on the family ranch outside of Meeker, where she learned to ride horses. Elaine loved spending time with her grandmother, Agnes Hunt, cooking on the coal stove and caring for the sheep, chickens, and garden. She shared many fond memories of long days as a “cowboy” with her step-grandfather, Edgar.

Elaine loved the theater, singing, and acting. She was involved in theater throughout high school, winning statewide awards, and later starring in many shows at Mesa State College. Her passion for theater stayed with her throughout her life, and she often sang and talked about her time in New York City, where she attended acting school.

Elaine traveled and lived across the U.S. early in her marriage to Barry Hutchings. When they returned to Denver, they welcomed their first child, Scott, born in 1974. Their second child, Erin, was born in 1978. While raising her two children, Elaine ran her own catering business and wedding consultancy from home.

She later moved to Dallas where she was involved in several businesses, including starting the bakery, “Dough-licious and Sweet,” while she worked evenings at a bill- collecting agency, humorously taking the phone name, “Anita Check.” After earning her MBA, Elaine spent the latter part of her career in the insurance industry — a job she joked she never expected to have, especially since she considered herself a hippie who went to college in Boulder during the ’60s.

Elaine had a zeal for life and enjoyed every day as it came. Known as a colorful character with a quick wit and a generous spirit, her humor and wisdom touched many lives. She loved dressing up, hosting parties and entertaining, creating many cherished memories of family holidays in the kitchen or mixing drinks in the dining room.

She had an extraordinary passion for gardening, cultivating spices and creating recipes – she owned over 100 cookbooks and even started her own spice company. She believed cooking was “an art, not a science,” and if you asked her for a recipe, it was often hard to figure out exactly what went into a particular dish.

Elaine was enamored with all things English, collecting tea sets, reading murder mysteries, especially Agatha Christie, and watching Angela Lansbury in "Murder, She Wrote" throughout her years.

Elaine was kind to everyone and always had something nice to say. She loved golf, acting, and anything that allowed her to be around people. Whenever you saw her, she was smiling and lighting up the room. She had an exceptional talent for making everyone feel valued and loved. Her vibrant spirit served as an inspiration for many and her unwavering support and boundless compassion for her family will define her legacy.

Most of all, Elaine was very proud of her son and daughter and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. She spoke of them often. She will be deeply missed by her children and grandchildren, but her memory will live on through family gatherings, laughter, and old movies.

She is survived by her children, Scott Hutchings and Erin Hutchings, her daughter-in- law Erin Mewhinney, and her grandchildren, Collin, Riley, and Natalie. She also leaves behind her three cherished half-sisters, Bonnie Bossart Hébert, Betsy Bossart Littlefield, and Diane Bossart, whom she got to know better on visits back to the Bossart Farm, as well as friends and colleagues who will deeply miss her presence.

A celebration of life will be held later this fall in Denver, where family and friends are invited to gather and honor her remarkable journey. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to Rocky Mountain PBS ( www.rmpbs.org ) in her memory.

Though we mourn the loss of Elaine, we find solace in the beautiful memories and the lasting impact she made on our lives. Her love and warmth will continue to guide us, and she will forever be in our hearts.