Fern Ann Hutsler

  General Notes:

For my mother (Fern Ann Hutsler, Young, McMullin's) 90th birthday, we had a party for her at her church (East Sedalia Baptist). She had about 160 relatives and friends in attendance. She also received 110 birthday cards. Following is a high-lighted story of her life, written by her daughter Laura Lee Young, Hoppes, and read by her daughter Betty Ann Young, Miley.
Fern Ann Hutsler, Young, McMullin was born in Cole Camp, Mo. on March 12, 1905 to John Henry Hutsler and Hettie Jane Parks. In 1909, the family moved to a farm four miles south of Cole Camp where mother grew up with two sisters and one brother. She also had an older half sister, Ruby Rohning, Harms and a half brother Walter Rohning. Mother has seen the passing of all of her siblings. Her brother John Clay Hutsler was killed in a truck accident a short distance from his home on Oct 23, 1939. He died at age thirty one, leaving behind a wife and four children under the age of eight. Mother's sister Jessie Riffle died at age eighty nine. She was preceded in death by her husband George Riffle. Margie Goble, mother's youngest sister, died this past November (1994) at age eighty seven. She left behind three daughters, a step son and step daughter, and numerous grandchildren and grandchildren.
Throughout her life, mother has had many memorable moments, beginning at age six at Fordney School. It was at this one room school house that mother began her education. The one and a half mile walk to school was often done through snow up to her knees. It was at this same twenty four seat school that Georgia Jane Young, Mais, her oldest daughter completed part of her education. The school has since been moved into Cole Camp to be preserved as a historical landmark.
At age nine mother lost her father due to a tragic accident. At the age of 45, John Henry Hutsler left behind a wife and four children under the age of eleven. The family pulled together to survive, making a living from the family farm. While her sisters Margie and Jessie did the housework, mother and her brother Clay helped to do outside chores. Mother remembers milking, shocking wheat, planting corn and using a sulky rake to put up hay. She also had to learn to bake and remembers standing on a box when making bread, coffee cakes, sugar cookies, and other baked goods. She could make some of the best pies you would ever want to eat. She was an excellent cook.
The family always went to Sunday School and church at Union Church, a small country church located close to their home. The children always had their shoes shined and clothes laid out. Grandmother made all of their clothes and although they did not have much, they were always clean. Mother remembers them having friends come home from church with them.
When mother was thirteen, she and Aunt Jessie started their high school education. They rented a room in Cole Camp and returned home on weekends. During the time away from home, they prepared their own meals and laundered their own clothes. Mother graduated from eighth grade when she was fifteen. Grandmother made her a graduation dress of blue organdy trimmed in pink, which she was very proud of. Mother was also baptized in the creek that ran through the family farm that same year.
At age seventeen mother met James Herbert Young, our father. He was a friend of a neighbor boy and had to cross the Hutsler's field to visit his friend. She remembers their first meeting was in the garden. She was planting tomatoes. He was not impressed with the way mother was planting the tomatoes and proceeded to show her how. (In later years my father always had a garden, whether it be large or small). A weed was never allowed to grow. Later they began dating. She worked in Kansas City during their two year courtship. Daddy would take the train every weekend to see her. They were married on March 29, 1924 by Reverend Kokendoffer. The S;ame minister also performed the marriage ceremony for their oldest daughter Georgia to John Mais twenty two years later. Mother and daddy moved to Sedalia the same year they were married. They started their family soon after.
The first four children were born in Sedalia. Georgia Jane, February 2, 1925, Herbert Waldo (Bussie), Nov 23, 1926, Douglas Clay, October 10, 1928, Betty Ann, Aug 27, 1930. They moved to Cole Camp before their fifth child Donald Paul was born Feb 20, 1933. They moved back to Sedalia shortly after, where Stanley Wayne was born January 20, 1935. A week after mother gave birth to Stanley, Donald Paul died Jan 27, 1935 at the age of twenty three months. His death was caused by double pneumonia and measles. Mother was still bedridden and unable to attend his burial service. The family moved to a small farm near Georgetown, Mo. in June of 1937, where Laura Lee was born December 12, 1938. This was their home for the next nine years.
It was at their home near Georgetown, that without modern amenities mother cared for not only her immediate family, but also her father-in-law and a sister-in-law. S;he cooked on a wood stove, heated with wood, washed on a washboard, hauled water from a spring and cistern, used oil lamps for light and canned all kinds of fruits and vegetables that were grown in her huge garden and orchard. It seems as if nothing slowed her down. She even sowed a field of oats when she was pregnant with Laura Lee. In 1945, the family moved to 1705 South Montgomery in Sedalia where she now lives.
There were times mother had to work when they had financial difficulties, but her biggest job was taking care of her large family.
Daddy worked at the Missouri Pacific Shops for many years. He died on May 18, 1969 at the age of sixty seven. He was a character. The children and grandchildren all have vivid memories and good stories to tell about him. He was well thought of and his children and grandchildren were his pride and joy.
Mother married Ed "Mac" McMullin in August of 1972. He was a widower she knew from the East Sedalia Baptist Church. She became a member of the East Church and later was the secretary of her sunday school class. Mac had four daughters and two sons, Naomi Price of Duncan, Oklahoma, Mary Ruth Yessen of Overland Park, Kansas, Edna Wills, of Sedalia and Beulah Houseworth of Versailles, Missouri. His sons are Carl McMullin of Duncan, Oklahoma and Charles McMullin of Warsaw, Missouri. Mac died Feb 21,1986 at the age of eighty seven.
Mother still has a small garden and a large yard filled with flowers. She cans vegetables and tends to her flowers. She had crocheted many treasured Afghans for her family. Her family continues to grow with nineteen grandchildren, twenty nine great grandchildren, one great great grandchild and more on the way. All enjoy visiting her and look forward to their favorite pie, which always seems to be waiting. ⁹

Fern married James Herbert Young, son of Richard Rabe Young and Betsy Ann Stanley. (James Herbert Young was born on 11 Nov 1901 in Sedalia, Pettis, Missouri, USA, died on 16 May 1969 in Sedalia, Pettis, Missouri, USA and was buried in Sedalia, Pettis, Missouri, USA.) The cause of his death was Stroke.