Wilson Little Funeral Home
Purcell-Newcastle, McClain Co., OK
(permission granted)

Elder Michael Franklin Hughes was born on May 5, 1951, in Rule, Texas. He went home to be with his Lord and Savior on December 10, 2022.

Mike was the youngest child of his parents, Fae — a sweet and gentle Texas woman—and Fred—an Irish immigrant and Master Sargent in the U.S. Air Force. He grew up in West Texas on a military base before moving to Florida when he was a teenager.

From a very early age, Mike knew he wanted to study science and mathematics and eventually become an engineer. He attended Miami Dade Community College and then Florida Atlantic University, and he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1973. Upon graduation, Mike worked various jobs to gain any valuable engineering experience he could, including repairing golf carts.

Though Mike attended church with his mother in Texas, it was during his time in Florida that his interest in the Church and study of the Bible became a prominent part of his life. He joined the Church and drew great comfort and strength from his worship with his Florida Church family.

In the summer of 1980, Mike attended the West Texas Association in Cone, Texas after being encouraged by others to go. There, he was introduced to the love of his life, Marilyn Kaye Newman, by a preacher he knew from his childhood in Texas, Elder Hilton Crain. Mike and Marilyn were engaged four months later and married the following year on August 1, 1981, in Duncan, Oklahoma. The two settled in Oklahoma City and had a son, William Zane, in 1984, and a daughter, Rachael Faye, in 1986.

Mike’s first job in Oklahoma City was at Corken, Inc., designing pumps and compressors. He loved his work and had a passion for creativity and innovation. He would then transition to Wood Group, GE, and, finally, Baker Hughes. Mike filled many different leadership positions and received various honors throughout his career including Chief Consultant of Artificial Lift and the prestigious Edison Award in 2016, both during his time at GE.

Mike was known for his incredible work ethic. It never mattered to Mike how long it took to complete a project or solve a problem—what mattered was getting it right. As Sister Marilyn often said, you never knew how long it was going to take Mike to finish something, but once he did, you knew it was top-notch quality. It was because of this and his unique ability to approach a problem from all angles that his judgements and opinions were held so highly. His colleagues knew that if Mike approved it then you could present it to anyone.

Mike was known for his mentorship to all his coworkers. He loved to learn what another person’s passions and goals were and talk through ways to achieve them. He also loved to learn from those he mentored. He was always open to new ideas and ways to improve methods and systems. He lived every day seeking to learn something new.

In 1989, Mike was ordained to the full work of the ministry and filled appointments in Crescent, Tecumseh, and Purcell, Oklahoma, before he was called as Pastor at Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church in Purcell, Oklahoma, in 1994, following the death of his father-in-law, Elder Jerry Newman. During his 28 years as Pastor, Elder Mike spent countless hours traveling to Church meetings, visiting the sick, and ministering the flock. He loved to sing hymns at the local nursing homes, to visit with the children and young members at Church, and to host numerous preachers with Sister Marilyn at their home during Church meetings over the years.

Later in life, Mike greatly enjoyed participating in the Old Baptist Weekly Broadcast every Wednesday night. He also loved his weekly Bible study with young Church members and often felt like he learned more from their discussions than they learned from him.

With humility and meekness, Elder Mike took great care in ensuring the Lord was worshipped during his ministry. He will be remembered for his loving nature, his never-ending service to the Church, and for his powerful, God-given gift and humble delivery in preaching the Word of God. As one member described him, Elder Mike was a preacher and a teacher.

Elder Mike is preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn Hughes; his father, Fred Hughes; his mother, Fae Hughes; his father-in-law, Elder Jerry Newman; his mother-in-law Faye Newman; his sister, Kay Evans and husband John Evans; his brother, David Springs; his niece, Linda Evans; and his brother-in-law, Elder Henry Newman.

He is survived by his son, William Hughes and wife Andrea Haken-Hughes and granddaughter, Alaina; his daughter, Rachael Zintgraff and husband Paul Zintgraff; his niece, Karla Evans and husband John Sheridan; his sister-in law, Celia Kreie and husband Elder Dennis Kreie; his sister-in-law, Emma Jean Newman; his nephews, Tom Newman, Mike Newman and wife Amberlee Newman, Brad Newman and wife Melissa Newman, and Erron Kreie; his nieces, Kayce Booth and husband Ron Booth, Leslye Montgomery and husband Elder David Montgomery; and numerous cousins, friends, extended family, and Brothers and Sisters in Christ.

Visitation for Elder Mike will be at Wilson Little Funeral Home in Purcell, Oklahoma, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 14. The funeral service will be held at Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church in Purcell on Thursday, December 15 at 10:00 a.m. The funeral service will be live-streamed for those who are unable to attend at the following link: Watch Purcell PBC Service Online - Purcell Primitive Baptist Church and the church’s Facebook site. The burial service will be held at Hillside Cemetery in Purcell, Oklahoma. Lunch will be held at the church following the burial service.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church or Harmony Plains Singing School, and can be mailed to Paula Brown, 3112 Tayport Street, Norman, Oklahoma, 73072.