Gary Raymond Hutchins, age 82, passed away Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at Clarissa Cook Hospice House after a long and valiant battle with cancer.

A visitation will be held Thursday, July 11, 2024, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Rock Island. Funeral services will be held Friday, July 12, 2024, at 11:00am at the funeral home. Inurnment will be at Rock Island Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the QC Animal Welfare Center or the University of Iowa Cancer Center.

Gary was born May 9, 1942, in Joy, Illinois, to Chester and Leanore Hutchins. He was a car salesman during the week, but most evenings and weekends were spent on the ball diamond. He was an outstanding softball pitcher, and was named one of the top ten athletes of the 20th century in the Quad Cities. He had offers from all around the country to go and play ball.

He married Janet Gilland on January 22, 2000. They had a beautiful life together and were very social. He loved to fish, watch sports on television, and spend time with his cats. In his later years, he enjoyed working at the Rock Island Fitness and Activity Center.

He is survived by his wife, Janet, his children, Jennifer (Boyd) Stanley, Scott ( Rebecca) Hutchins , his stepson, Steven ( Betsy) Gilland and their three children, his brothers Roger( Cindy) Hutchins, John ( Jessica) Hutchins, his sister, Ruth Ripka, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Linda, and his parents.