Lester Dean Hughes of Colcord went home to be with his Lord at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 1, 2008 at Hastings Indian Medical Center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma after a long bout with diabetes. He was 73. Lester was born May 30, 1935 in Delaware County, Oklahoma to Ezekel and Catherine (Kaiser) Hughes. He joined the U. S. Army on August 12, 1955 as an armament mechanic sergeant. After his honorable discharge on July 31, 1961, he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he worked as a carpenter. Upon completion of his Bachelors Degree from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, he taught carpentry at Colcord schools until his retirement. Lester had a love for the outdoors and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He really enjoyed his carpentry students and at the end of each school year, he took them fishing at Lake Eucha. Lester and his brothers and sisters had their own band for many, many years and played country and western and gospel music for area rodeos, family reunions, various club meetings, etc. Lester was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church of Maysville, Arkansas, the Oklahoma Education Association, and the Masons. On October 18, 1955, he married Ruth Duncan at Tahlequah. She survives of the home at Colcord. Additional survivors include two sons, Steven Leon Hughes of Colcord, and Terry Wayne Hughes of Inola, OK; two daughters, Kimberly Ann Kirk of Colcord, and Tamara Renee Wheeler of Eucha; two sisters, Dorothy Finell of Vinita, OK, and Geraldine Duncan of Lowery, OK; nine grandchildren, and one step-grandson. Lester was preceded in death by his parents, seven brothers, and one sister. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 5, 2008 at the Colcord Community Center in Colcord with Rev. Jim Alexander officiating. Pallbearers will be Phillip Larmon, Harold Thomas, T.J. Thomas, Merlin Thomas, Clifton Hughes, and Jeff Chamberlain. Honorary Pallbearers will be Red Tucker, Bill Earp, Ronnie Enyart, Kyle Morgan, James "Butch" Harrison, and George Earley. Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home of Jay is in charge of arrangements. Friends and family may leave condolences on-line at www.honoringmemories.com.
Service Details
Thursday, June 5th, 2008 2:00pm, Colcord Community Center
Interment Details
Row Cemetery