MADISON
John Ray Cutshall, 79, passed away at 6:16 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, at his home near Madison.
Born Oct. 18, 1937, in Bicknell, he was the son of Robert Jacob and Myrtle Durnil Cutshall. On Oct. 24, 1958, he married Kaye Nicholson in Vallonia. This happy union of 58 years was blessed with three sons, John Robert, Stew and Howie.
John was a 1955 graduate of Bicknell High School and attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, studying the field of radio television arts.
John began a career in broadcasting in 1956 with WTAY in Robinson, Illinois, and continued from 1957-58 at WJCD in Seymour. He then worked from 1958-59 at WRAY in Princeton and from 1959-62 at WAOV Radio in Vincennes. They moved to Madison in 1962, and he was with WORX Radio until 1965. John sold insurance for Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance from 1965-1969. He served as program director at WORX Radio from 1969-1971. John began a career with the Madison State Hospital, where he developed a closed-circuit television studio and served as community services director for the hospital for 20 years. He enjoyed conducting tours of the facility and grounds for thousands of people for 17 of those years and retired in 2001.
John was very community minded, volunteering and holding memberships in many organizations. His community service earned him the Jaycee’s Outstanding Young Man Award in 1966; the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce Farm City Committee Award in 1967; the Honorary Chapter Farmer Award in 1966 and 1967; the Indiana Good Neighbor Award from the Farm-City Committee; the Distinguished Service Award in 1966 from the Madison Jaycees; and the Medalist Award while working for Farm Bureau in 1969. He served as president of the Jefferson County Farm City Committee and treasurer of the Ryker’s Ridge Cemetery Association. He was a member of the Broken Wing’s Radio Controlled Model Airplane Club; and a founding member of the Ryker’s Ridge Fire Department.
John loved magic, playing Santa Claus, announcing the Madison Regatta Parade, beekeeping and socializing with people. He served as a past deacon, elder and teacher at North Madison Christian Church, where he had been a member for 54 years.
Other survivors include sons, John Robert (Debbie) Cutshall of Marshall, Illinois, Stew (Donna) Cutshall of Bloomington and Howie (Lisa) Cutshall of Madison; grandchildren, Jennifer (Shawn) Egan, Amy (Andrew) Williams, Chris Cutshall, Ryan Cutshall, Rachel Cutshall, Benjamin Cutshall and Aleah Cutshall; great-grandchildren, Austin Cutshall, Brett Egan, Madison Egan, Beckah Williams and Gracie Williams; brother, Bob Cutshall of Port Neches, Florida; sisters, Mary Cutshall of Lafayette and Margaret (Ron) Goyer of Vincennes; sister-in-law, Donna McPike of Medora; brother-in-law, David (Julia) Nicholson of Noblesville; several nieces and nephews; and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Jacob Cutshall, on Nov. 29, 1976, and his mother, Myrtle Durnil Cutshall, on May 3, 1989.
The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at North Madison Christian Church with Brother Bob Hicks, Brother Robby King and Pastor Richard Jankosky officiating. Interment will be in Ryker’s Ridge New Cemetery on Ryker’s Ridge near Madison.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre and from 9 a.m. until time of service Thursday at the church.
Memorials may be made to North Madison Christian Church or Ryker’s Ridge New Cemetery.
Condolences may be shared with the family at morgan-nay.com.