Grace Hutcherson Eckel

View Funeral WebcastGrace Marie Hutcherson Eckel, 79, resident of Warfield Drive in Nashville and retired accountant for Blevins Popcorn Company, died Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at Alive Hospice at St. Thomas. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at Oakes & Nichols with John Hayes and Kenneth Head officiating. Burial will follow in Lasting Hope Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Beech Grove Church of Christ Building Fund, c/o Lloyd Royce P. O. Box 55, Spring Hill 37174. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols.com. The Maury County native was the daughter of the late Walter Green Hutcherson and Nevada Choate Hutcherson. She was a 1948 graduate of Spring Hill High School and active in the Alumni Association and Class Reunion events. She also attended the University of Tennessee in Nashville. She was an accountant for the Blevins Popcorn Company for over 30 years and recognized by the company in 1980 as Woman of the Year. As a child she began membership in the congregation of Beech Grove Church of Christ and during the many years she made her home in Nashville attended Granny White Church of Christ. Mrs. Eckel was an avid gardener and enjoyed raising tomatoes, squash, and various other produce. Known as a wonderful cook, she was renown for her pickles and chocolate pies. For several years she was a vendor at the Murfreesboro Farmers' Market. She also loved needlework. Survivors include sisters, Margaret Hutcherson of the Carter's Creek Community and Helen Alvis of Jacksonville, Florida; brothers, R. C. (Johnnie) Hutcherson, Clifford Hutcherson, and Merrill (Edna) Hutcherson, all of the Carter's Creek Community; devoted nieces, Brenda (Terry) Evetts, Sheila (Eddie) Hickman, and Deborah (Jeff) Thompson, all of the Carter's Creek Community, Linda (Michael Bligh) Hutcherson of Nashville, Janice (Robert) Chambers of Bowling Green, Kentucky, Patricia (Stanley) Valdez of White House; nephews, David (Julie) Hutcherson of Columbia, Gary Hutcherson of Chattanooga, Terry (Mona)Hutcherson of Nashville, Zane (Linda) Hutcherson of Memphis, Lamar (Penny) Hutcherson of Chattanooga, Edwin Hutcherson of Columbia, Ray (Linda) Hutcherson of Columbia, James (Chris) Hutcherson of Atlanta, Georgia, and Jerry (Debbie) Alvis of Jacksonville, Florida; several great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Eckel in 1985; sisters, Avie Hendrix, and Ellie Hutcherson; brothers, Orville Hutcherson, Hardy Hutcherson, and Robert Hutcherson; and a niece, Katherine Compton. Active pallbearers are Gary Hutcherson, Terry Hutcherson, David Hutcherson, Ray Hutcherson, Lamar Hutcherson, and Bert Hutcherson. Honorary pallbearers include Donny Walters, Edwin Hutcherson, Jerry Alvis, James Hutcherson, Zane Hutcherson, members of Beech Grove Church of Christ, and the 1948 Class of Spring Hill High School. The family expresses appreciation to the Staff of Alive Hospice of St. Thomas for the care and concern during her illness.