Mary Andre Burke Hutson

Mary Andre Burke Hutson, 73, of Signal Mountain passed away peacefully on Saturday, Nov 9 after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. She was born in Chattanooga to Joseph L and Odell Barker Burke of Hixson, who were charter members of St. Jude Catholic Church and School. She was a 1969 graduate of Notre Dame High School, where she was an honor student and played basketball. She attended Chattanooga State and UTC. Her degree in Environmental Science led to careers at TVA, EPA, UNUM, City of Chattanooga, and Marion Environmental.

Mary spent her young years playing and teaching piano, which was her talent in Chattanooga's Junior Miss Pageant. Her interest in art, modeling, makeup, and photography led her to the Chaparral Talent Agency. Through them she worked as an extra in several movies and could be seen in local TV commercials and print advertisements. She later earned a license in cosmetology and permanent makeup and did hair and makeup for movies and documentaries filmed in the Chattanooga area. She loved flower and vegetable gardening, astrology, teaching pottery basics to homeschooled students, and taking in countless stray dogs and cats that landed on her doorstep.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, infant daughter Jennifer Marie Hutson, sister-in-law Rena Burke, nephew Paul Burke, and great nephew Ryan Burke.

Survivors are her son Ronald Andrew Hutson, brother Joseph P Burke, sister Therese Bowman (Ray), nephews Michael and Patrick Burke, devoted friends Cynthia Reynolds and Danette Kelley and a host of cousins and great nieces and nephews.

The family and friends thank the staff members of both personal care homes that took excellent care of Mary. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either Andrea Jackson's Personal Care Home, c/o Andrea Jackson, 2402 Leann Circle, Chattanooga, TN 37406 or Gentle Hands Personal Care Home, c/o Gabriela Dunn, 4124 Melinda Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37416

A graveside service officiated by Father John Dowling will be held at Hamilton Memorial Gardens on November 15 at 3 pm. Arrangements are by Companion Funeral Home, Chattanooga.