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Karen Sousette Waterman Hutchcraft

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Service: Celebration of Life at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 21, at Harrison First Baptist Church; Visitation: 5-8 p.m. Friday, May 20, at the church.  

A life well lived. Jesus-lover. Mother. Grandmother. Sister. Daughter. Friend. Mother to the motherless. Hope-bringer. Joy-giver.  

Karen Sousette Waterman Hutchcraft chose to live life God’s way, not her own way. And she left an incredibly huge path of love behind her in the lives of everyone she met. She had a gorgeous Jesus-glow, that is even greater now that she’s with Jesus. Karen went Home to be with Jesus on Monday, May 16 (2016). She was 72 years old.  

She was born to Rea and Ruth (Hadley) Waterman in Hondo, Texas, on March 15, 1944. She grew up on a humble farm in the Ozarks of Harrison, graduating from Harrison High School in 1962. She learned her hard work ethic doing farm chores along with her sister, Valerie, so she could participate in school activities like Marching Band and Yearbook. Family has always been important to Karen. She grew up with her sister, parents, and grandparents who lived nearby.

After high school, Karen journeyed to Chicago, Illinois, to study God’s Word at Moody Bible Institute. 1965 was a big year, as she graduated from Moody, and married a young man who also loved Jesus, Ron Hutchcraft.

Ron and Karen were active in youth ministry from the moment they returned home from their honeymoon. Karen was active as a community “make a difference” volunteer for many years. She organized a Mother’s Club, and a Charm School for girls. Many hours were spent serving as a counselor of young women and many others.

Karen served as a member of the Board of Governors of Northeastern Bible College in Essex Fells, New Jersey. She has also served as a missions’ photographer to the country of Haiti.

Karen invested many years molding and shaping the young lives of her three children, Lisa (Whitmer), Doug and Brad.  

In 1991, Karen was the co-founder and primary architect in the launch of Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, an international non-profit organization, which now employs over 30 people in Arkansas and Arizona. She served as Chief Operating Officer for many years and was managerial engineer for the structure and ethics of Ron Hutchcraft Ministries. She served as the Executive Assistant to the President for many years.

In 1999, Karen directed a major organizational move, as RHM moved from its roots in New Jersey to Harrison. She organized a team of 50-plus volunteers who helped build RHM's Headquarters, and helped secure funds so they were debt-free on the day of RHM's dedication.

Karen played a significant role in the launch, development and growth of the “On Eagles’ Wings” Native American youth ministry, beginning in 1992. She has helped lead numerous missions trips to over 100 reservations across North America.

Karen has been a mentor and encourager of hundreds of Native American young people for over 25 years. This daily, life-changing and life-saving ministry has impacted countless Native American young people from numerous tribes.  

Karen was an active member of Harrison Colony, Daughters of the American Revolution. She has held leadership positions locally, as well as with the Arkansas State Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

Karen was the founder and organizer of the Ozark Society, Children of the American Revolution local chapter, in which her grandchildren all participate. 

Some of her interests besides spending abundant time laughing and sharing stories with all her family, were pursuing further education in photography, and sharing that talent with many through ministry audiovisuals; as well as pursuing online creative writing through Oxford University (London).  

She is an amazing grandmother, mother, wife, sister, and mother-in-law. Karen so enjoyed being back in her Ozark Mountains where she grew up.

As her husband has said since her Homegoing, “Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)  And one teenage grandson passionately said, “I’m really not seeing how to be sad in this situation. There is so much hope!”  

Some of Karen’s family had already gone on to be with Jesus — her grandparents, Glenn and Anna Waterman, of Harrison, and traveling missionaries, William and Esther Hadley; and her parents, Rea and Ruth Waterman, of Harrison.  

Her family who remain are her lifetime love and husband of almost 51 years, Ron Hutchcraft; her treasured children, daughter Lisa (Rick) Whitmer, and her sons Doug (Anna) Hutchcraft and Brad (Sara) Hutchcraft; and her devoted sister, Valerie Waterman.  

She has nine grandchildren who she completely adored and taught about Jesus’ love: Jordan, Blake and Jenna Whitmer; Noelle, Taylor, Samuel, Charissa, Caleb, and Joshua Hutchcraft.  

Pallbearers are Doug Hutchcraft, Brad Hutchcraft, Rick Whitmer, Jordan Whitmer, Blake Whitmer, Leo Bird of Chewey, Oklahoma, Fred Bobb of Antlers, Oklahoma, and Joseph McConville of Lapwai, Idaho.  

Honorary pallbearers are the dedicated staff of Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc. and the young spiritual Native American warriors of On Eagles’ Wings.  

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 20, followed by a Celebration of Life at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 21, both at Harrison First Baptist Church.  

In lieu of flowers and in honor of Karen’s ministry among Native Americans, memorial contributions may be made to On Eagles’ Wings, P.O. Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602.   



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