Jack Hughes

Jack Leon Hughes, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away at his residence Monday, May 30th, 2011 at 83 years of age. Jack was born February 29th, 1928 to Charles Lee Hughes and Anna (Heath) Hughes in Nowata, Oklahoma. He attended school in Childers, OK, and remained in the Nowata area all his life. At 16 years of age, Jack traveled to Portland, Oregon to work in the shipyards. After returning to Oklahoma he worked in local oil fields as a roustabout. Mr. Hughes proudly served in the Army, remaining stateside as a Military Police Officer stationed in Georgia where he was responsible for transferring military prisoners to different parts of the United States. Upon being discharged, he returned to the Nowata area. Soon after, Jack eloped with Ruby Allene Lopeman in Missouri and the couple returned to Oklahoma to make their home in the Childers area. In 1950 Jack's work brought the couple to live briefly in Borger, Texas, where he worked in oil fields on the pulling unit, and in 1952 Jack and Allene returned home to the Nowata area. Jack was a self-taught television and radio repairman who owned and operated "Hughes TV Sales", repairing countless televisions, radios, and various other electronic devices for 35 years. In 1957 Mr. Hughes began working for the City of Nowata as a police officer and diligently worked his way up to become Assistant Police Chief, continuing his television and radio repair business on the side. Jack went on to begin working as a fire fighter for the city of Nowata, eventually becoming Chief of the Nowata Fire Department. While Fire Chief, he also served as Interim City Manager, later being elected City Manager, a position he held for ten years. Jack served as both Fire Chief and City Manager until retiring from the Fire Department in 1991. He continued working as City Manager until his retirement in 1993. In addition to his positions with the City of Nowata, Mr. Hughes also served as Plumbing Inspector, Electrical Inspector, and Building Inspector. During that time he was one of only two people in the state of Oklahoma who held licenses for all three, in addition to serving as Public Defense Director for the City of Nowata. Some of Jack's favorite pastimes were fishing and hunting, and both his children and grandchildren have fond memories of time spent with him while enjoying these hobbies. He and Allene also enjoyed traveling with their camper throughout the United States on what Jack always referred to as "windshield trips." Jack Leon Hughes is survived by his wife, Ruby Allene Hughes, of the home, brother Carl Hughes of Utah, sister Tawanda Hamilton of Nowata, daughter Mary Crosetto and husband Larry of Coffeyville, KS, son David Leroy Hughes and wife Pam of Nowata, and daughter Pamela Spencer of Nowata. Mr. Hughes is also survived by his grandchildren Jennifer Hughes, Chris Spencer and wife Taliha, Charles McClellan and wife Danielle, Blake Spencer and wife Carla, Jacob Hughes, Nick Hughes and wife Rebecca, Kenna Spencer and husband Salvador, Kaci Vanderpool and husband Nick, Teresa Bowman and husband Matt, and Jami Hughes, as well as six great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren, and two faithful canine companions, Snickerdoodle and Snoopy, who provided Jack with endless entertainment, companionship, and comfort. Mr. Hughes was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Orville Hughes, Ken Hughes, Leonard Hughes, and Hurbert Hughes, his sons Kenneth Leon Hughes and Jackie Don Hughes, grandson Scott Crosetto, granddaughter Angela Coons and great-granddaughter Brooklyn Coons. Funeral services for Jack will be held Friday, the third of June at ten o'clock in the morning at Benjamin Funeral Home in Nowata, OK. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to 1033 Wheelchair Van, Shriners Hospitals for Children, or any charity of choice.

Visitation Details

Wednesday, June 1st, 2011 8:00am - 9:00pm, Benjamin Funeral Home

Thursday, June 2nd, 2011 8:00am - 9:00pm, Benjamin Funeral Home

Service Details

Friday, June 3rd, 2011 10:00am, Benjamin Funeral Home

Interment Details

Nowata Memorial Park Cemetery