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Eulogy for Dennis Lee Hughes – Victor Hughes
Dennis was born April 3rd, 1949 near Muldrow, Oklahoma. His parents were Jessie Franklin Hughes and Patsy Florena Brown. He was primarily raised in Eastern Oklahoma living with his grandma and grandpa Brown. He graduated from Gans High School with a class of about 12.
Dennis is preceded in death by his grandma and grandpa Brown and his mother and father.
He is survived by his wife Espe; son JJ and his wife Sarah; daughter Cindy and her husband Chris; and son Victor. He is also survived by his sisters Sharon and her husband Bill; Bonita and her husband Robert; Barbara and her husband Ronnie, and his sister Cecilia; his brother Jessie Wayne and his wife Diana; and his granddaughters Courtney and Chelsea. He is remembered by many close cousins, nieces, nephews, and family members spread across several states; Oklahoma, Kentucky, Ohio, Arizona, California, Florida, and Hawaii to name a few.
I want to take one final moment to speak to our family...and if you are a friend of our family you ARE our family, so to you as well. These past 4 days and nights since dad passed have been beautiful, because of all of you. In one setting or another, we gathered together, and although many tears were shed they were far outnumbered by the laughter, the joy, and the stories we shared, and the new memories that we all made together. Lifetimes of memories in just a few days. Celebrating his life, and celebrating our lives together all in these little moments. That's what dad was about through and through...the moments shared with family and friends. We have a strong family...and I mean VERY strong. Dad was our ambassador...but now the torch is passed, and we will honor him just like we have already; by making all of our moments together memories that will live on.
Out of high school, Dad worked various jobs, including hauling hay, the railroad, and as a bouncer with those big shoulders. Dennis and "a buddy" decided to blaze new trails and headed west. This landed him in the middle of the Sonoran Desert and the beautiful town of Ajo, Arizona. There he worked in an open-pit copper mine. On lunch breaks the miners would eat at a small café. This is where he met Esperanza; "Espe". She said "he was intrigued with her... car". They were married February 5th, 1971. Shortly after my sister Cindy was born, we relocated to Walton, Kentucky where I was born.
In Kentucky, Dennis took a job as a painter and drywall finisher. In 1977 when his Dad was diagnosed with an illness, the family picked up and moved to Moore, Oklahoma. Dennis was a proud lifetime member of the Painters Local Union 807 for 46 years. He worked on many of the buildings that we see standing in Oklahoma City today; his last major job being on the Chesapeake campus.
Dad was a layered and "complicated" man. Dennis loved anything outdoors—going to the "deer woods" to hunt and fish. He was always willing to share his deer sausage. He loved tending his garden in the backyard; farmers out west would be jealous of his watermelons, sweet potatoes, peppers, and that one pineapple in Oahu. He was always interested in learning about things. I'm not sure he found enough things to read; who's ever read the encyclopedia...multiple volumes...on purpose? Also, he was always happy to have folks over to his house for fish frys and cookouts. Let's not forget about the casino; not sure what he did with the motorcycle he won. And in his recent years, strolling the beach in Hawaii collecting sea glass.
Dennis was also interested in people. He would remember you after just one meeting and would always inquire about how "they" were doing. He was all about the stories, especially the funny ones. You may not think he's listening, but he heard everything that was going on. And he'd be more than happy to retell it later. He liked to see others laugh. He'd tell the funny stories even if they were on him, just to see everyone get the funny too. I think the thing most people will always remember about Dennis is how he engaged with you...how he wanted to hear about what has been going on with you.
Cindy's Thoughts to Dennis
I would like to share a few thoughts. First of all, I want to thank you all for being here today. "Hmm", as he would say. This day could've come a whole lot sooner as we have jokingly said, "He had 9 lives." As Sarah said when he was in the hospital for heart surgery, "He is having quadruple bypass surgery, but he's healthy." Because, no matter what, he always bounced back and would be gardening or carrying firewood like it never happened. I came home to Oklahoma 8 years ago thinking, this is it. But God chose to let us have 8 more years of memories.
He wasn't perfect—none of us are—and he was probably harder on himself than anyone, but that is the glorious and beautiful thing about God; He loves us in our brokenness. And in my heart, it was the good Lord that gave him the peace, and his pain-free final hours.
Our Dad was one of the hardest working guys I knew. One of the reasons he wanted to get this surgery done was so we could get back to Ajo, Arizona and finish the little house we were working on. I know that you all are here today because somewhere along the way you crossed paths with my Dad. You worked beside him while he hummed a tune. He was your neighbor and you would see him mowing the yard in the hottest part of the day, or carrying firewood on the coldest. You gardened with him or he was your "cousin-brother", and it's hard to remember many of your best memories without him. Most likely, at one point or another, he managed to put a smile on your face, or you put one on his.
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