James (Hutch) Harley Hutchins

Published 10:51 am Tuesday, March 12, 2024

James (Hutch) Harley Hutchins

November 17, 1935 – February 24, 2024

Jim “Hutch” Hutchins peacefully died of cancer surrounded by family on February 24, 2024.

Jim was born in Seattle, Washington to Arthur and Esther Hutchins. He was raised with 2 brothers, Wes and Art, and a sister, Janet. He described his mother, a homemade-wheelchair bound polio survivor, as a source of inspiration. His father was a hardworking, kind man. Jim spent much of his youth hiking and fishing the rivers, streams, and lakes of Washington.

Jim married Joan Anderson, and they had four children: Michael, Julie, Mark, and John. During his adult years in Washington, he proudly served two terms on the Lynnwood City Council.

In 1980, Jim moved to San Diego, California where he met his future wife, Carla Clark. They married in 1984 and had a son, James Patrick (J.P.). Jim always had a love of gardening and in San Diego he started Hutch’s Landscaping, focusing on color gardens.

In 1989 the family moved to Medford, Oregon, where he continued his landscaping business and explored every Southern Oregon river for salmon and steelhead. In 1992 he founded a nonprofit, Rural Outdoor Education, later changing the name to Oregon Stewardship, with the mission of fostering environmental stewardship among students. Under Jim’s 32-year leadership as Program Manager, Oregon Stewardship reached hundreds of students each year, leading field trips, class projects, and awarding scholarships for college or vocational training for exemplary student volunteers. Jim was most proud of the students for their tireless work completing interpretive trails, riparian zone restoration, removal of invasive plant species, community garden construction, and native plant potting and planting. Most recently, with the help of students from South Medford High School and support from the City of Medford, Jim designed, built, and maintained the riparian restoration and interpretive trail called “Panther Pride Trail” along the Bear Creek greenway near the Medford Skate Park.

Jim brought his passion for painting and poetry into the Oregon Stewardship curriculum, encouraging students to take artistic inspiration from the natural resources they were learning to steward.

Jim leaves behind a legacy of relentless work at building strong relationships among diverse members of the Southern Oregon community and fostering agreement to work together as stewards of the region’s beautiful natural resources.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Art and Wes, sons Micheal and John, and grandson Collin James Hutchins. He is survived by his wife, Carla Clark-Hutchins; children, Julie Zermeno, Mark Hutchins, and J.P. Hutchins, grandchildren Dominique Zermeno, Noah Zermeno, Garrett, Hadyn, and Dallas Hutchins; and great grandchildren, Riley Hyland, Zayden and Cora Lou Zermeno, and Emmett Gomez. Jim was a long-time member of Ascension Lutheran Church. A public memorial will be held at Ascension, 675 Black Oak Dr. Medford on March 23 at 1:00PM. Following the service, participants will be invited for a hike on Panther Pride Trail.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Oregon Stewardship Scholarship Fund: 1338 Andrew Dr. Medford, OR 97501 / oregonstewardship.org.