Joyce Hutter

Merry Joyce Allison Wood Hutter August 26, 1943 – August 1, 2025

Merry Joyce Allison Wood Hutter, a woman of deep creativity, compassion, and faith, passed away peacefully on August 1, 2025, just shy of her 82nd birthday.

Joyce was born on August 26, 1943, in Augusta, Kansas. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, friend, teacher, and artist whose effervescent spirit touched the lives of everyone who knew her.

In March 1965, she married Vaughn E. Wood, with whom she shared a loving life and raised two daughters, Alyson and Kyla. After Vaughn’s passing, Joyce found love again and married Andrew C. (Andy) Hutter in January 1996. Through this union, her family expanded to include Andy’s daughters—Jill, Sheri, and Cindy—whom she welcomed with a loving heart.

Joyce is survived by her loving and devoted husband Andy; daughters Alyson Gindler (David) of Austin, TX, and Kyla Elston (Greg) of Georgetown, TX, Jill Pirhalla (John) of Chattanooga, OK, Sheri Hood (Q) of Longview, TX, and Cindy Landers (Danny) of Keithville, LA, her sister Trish Matheson (Dennis), brother Jerry Allison, and sister-in-law Karen Allison; eleven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, David E. Allison, Sr. and Carol Allison Whiteside, her brother David E. Allison, Jr. and her sister-in-law Fay Allison.

A gifted artist, Joyce expressed herself through painting, sewing, music, and most profoundly through quilting. She was an accomplished quilter whose designs were uniquely her own—original creations that reflected her creativity, patience, and joy. Each quilt she made was a gift of love and a legacy of beauty.

Joyce was a lifelong educator by profession and by nature. She approached life with kindness and curiosity, always ready to share her knowledge or lend a hand. Her warmth and light were felt in every room she entered, and her ability to make others feel seen and loved was one of her greatest gifts.

Joyce was civic and service-minded, serving multiple terms as president of the Council Grove City Lake Association as well as president of the Council Grove Chamber of Commerce. She was active in her local P.E.O. sisterhood and a dedicated member of First Baptist Church of Council Grove, where her faith and fellowship were an important part of her life. Joyce also cared deeply about the mission of St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and supported their work with heartfelt commitment.

Joyce's life was a tapestry of love, creativity, and generosity. She will be dearly missed and forever remembered by those who were fortunate enough to know her.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at First Baptist Council Grove. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org.