J.O. Hughes
September 14, 1932 — December 10, 2013
J.O. Hughes went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, December 10, 2013. He passed peacefully with family at his side. J.O. was 81, having been born in Campton, Kentucky, on September 14, 1932, to James Orvis and Ruth (Tyler) Hughes. The Hughes family moved to Las Cruces in the late 1940s where they owned and operated the Hughes Motel and service station on West Picacho. J.O. attended La...
J.O. Hughes went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, December 10, 2013. He passed peacefully with family at his side. J.O. was 81, having been born in Campton, Kentucky, on September 14, 1932, to James Orvis and Ruth (Tyler) Hughes. The Hughes family moved to Las Cruces in the late 1940s where they owned and operated the Hughes Motel and service station on West Picacho. J.O. attended Las Cruces Union High for his senior year, graduating in 1951. Between 1955 and 1957 he served with the U.S. Army CIC in Stuttgart, Germany. Upon his return he worked at WSMR and began his college studies. In 1959 J.O. and Becky Braun were married in Las Cruces. They renewed their wedding vows at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in 2009 on their 50th anniversary. J.O. graduated with a B.S. degree in mathematics from NMSU in 1967 at which time the family was transferred to Huntsville, Alabama, where J.O. worked for Kentron-Hawaii, Ltd. as a flight safety engineer. For the next 16 years the family was transferred to various locations, including Kwajalein, Marshall Islands; and Edwards Air Force Base, California. In 1983 J.O. began work as a computer analyst with the Physical Science Laboratory at NMSU, retiring from PSL in 1997. His hobbies included family tree research, amateur radio, and sharing his joy of gardening by gifting others with seeds he gathered from everywhere. He volunteered at Las Cruces Memorial Medical Center and for many years after retirement was music librarian at...
J.O. Hughes went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, December 10, 2013. He passed peacefully with family at his side. J.O. was 81, having been born in Campton, Kentucky, on September 14, 1932, to James Orvis and Ruth (Tyler) Hughes. The Hughes family moved to Las Cruces in the late 1940s where they owned and operated the Hughes Motel and service station on West Picacho. J.O. attended Las Cruces Union High for his senior year, graduating in 1951. Between 1955 and 1957 he served with the U.S. Army CIC in Stuttgart, Germany. Upon his return he worked at WSMR and began his college studies. In 1959 J.O. and Becky Braun were married in Las Cruces. They renewed their wedding vows at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in 2009 on their 50th anniversary. J.O. graduated with a B.S. degree in mathematics from NMSU in 1967 at which time the family was transferred to Huntsville, Alabama, where J.O. worked for Kentron-Hawaii, Ltd. as a flight safety engineer. For the next 16 years the family was transferred to various locations, including Kwajalein, Marshall Islands; and Edwards Air Force Base, California. In 1983 J.O. began work as a computer analyst with the Physical Science Laboratory at NMSU, retiring from PSL in 1997. His hobbies included family tree research, amateur radio, and sharing his joy of gardening by gifting others with seeds he gathered from everywhere. He volunteered at Las Cruces Memorial Medical Center and for many years after retirement was music librarian at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. In addition to his loving wife, J.O. is survived by sons Jay and wife Debbie (Howey) and William "Whip" and wife Iwona (Wojcinska), granddaughter Kelsey, and grandsons Curtis, Joshua, and Timothy Hughes, all of Las Cruces; also nephews Shane Williams and Tyler Williams living in Alabama. He has cousins, an uncle, and two aunts in Kentucky/Florida. J.O. was predeceased by his father in 1982, his mother in 2009, sister Patty Sue Williams in 2009, and sister Amanda in 1933. Services will be held on Monday, December 16, at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 225 West Griggs Street here in Las Cruces. Viewing will take place in the chapel from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., with the service starting at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary. Dr. Doug Weeks will officiate. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Gardens, which will include a military funeral detail. Pallbearers will be Jay Hughes, William "Whip" Hughes, Curtis Hughes, Jerry Noe, Mark Ewing, and Charles Gardenhire. Honorary pallbearers will be Joshua Hughes, Timothy Hughes, Dr. Larry Hall, and Walter Haas. In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to do so may make a contribution to the St. Paul's building fund, Safe Haven Animal Shelter, or charity of choice in J.O.'s memory. The family is greatly appreciative of the wonderful, caring help that J.O. received at the Heritage Assisted Living Facility and from the Mesilla Valley Hospice. PDF Printable Version
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