of Maumelle, AR

February 10, 1939 - November 18, 2025

Howard D. Hughes, (that'd be me), met my demise and embarked on that perpetual journey of the afterlife on November 18, 2025. I had to come up with that because Dottie nixed ''croaked, bought the farm, and bit the dust'' as she thought it had too many ''C's, corny, classless, crude, and country! Well, as a country boy thru and thru, I thought it fit the narrative and conveyed the message adequately. I am beyond sad and am blinded by tears as I write but I had penned this before Dottie went home to God and she had already reviewed it, and for me, being my easygoing, go-along-to-get-along, compromising self, it was easy to honor her request. RIP, Sweetheart.

After much deliberation, I decided to write my own final notice. After all, I am the resident expert on me, and if I need any advice, I usually ask myself anyway as I know me better than anyone else. I also didn't want to burden my loved ones with having to come up with all those nice things to say about me, even though I know they would be sincere and heartfelt. Another reason is that just in case they couldn't come up with anything. I didn't exactly go out in a blaze of glory, but I did go out like I came in, naked with nothing, materially speaking. I did leave, however, with an abundance of wealth in terms of a loving family and many friends. And what more could anyone want than the hope to return to him who gave us life to begin with? My prayer is to reunite with loved ones gone before and to be there to greet those who follow. I'll have the cornbread ready!

Those gone on ahead are my parents, Doyle and Odell Hughes of Delight, all my grandparents and my two dear younger brothers, Randy and Kenny (I can't wait to play ''peck the peanut'' with them again''!) and my nephew, Toby Hughes. At this writing, Dottie returned to God just one month prior to our sixty-eighth wedding anniversary which would have been May 17, 2025. She was always with me and supported me in every move I needed to make through thick and thin times, and believe me, there were some thin ones, but guess what? We always emerged better for it! I thank God every day for you.

Left behind to enjoy God's creation are daughter Kim (Richard) McClain of Conway, son Mitch (Cindy) Hughes of Ft. Smith, sister Carolyn Holmes of Hot Springs, sister-in-law Karan Hughes of Maumelle and four awesome grandsons, Landon (Breckenn), Alex, Connor and Brennen (Bree). Also, practice niece Missy Masterson-Hale, special nieces Jana, Jamie, Gina, Karen, Toni, Teri, Tammy, Tonya and nephews Hayden and Jade. Also left are five precious great grand-children; Wren, Lyla, Miller, Paislee, and Gannon. As the song goes, ''Let me see my children grow to see what they become'', which He has, for which I am eternally grateful and profoundly proud of them.

I was born in the SW Arkansas town of Delight on February 10, 1939, to Doyle and Odell Hughes. With after-effects of the Great Depression and WWII looming, times were hard, but folks were tough and learned to adapt. I am grateful for the lessons I learned during those times which I have endured throughout my lifetime.

In the interest of not overcrowding the cemeteries, I have decided on cremation for my remains. I am convinced that since God put me together once, a second time will be a mere tap-in. Besides, I'm like the big John Coffey of the Green Mile, ''I'm scared of the dark'' and I'd rather be scattered than scared. Just kidding.

I won't attempt to blow any smoke about what I did or didn't accomplish in life since none of that really matters. What really matters are the impressions I've made and the influences I've had on others which I hope were positive and good. I pray for that to be my legacy. I have few regrets in life but one would be that I didn't help folks in need as much as I could and should have. I hope God will forgive me for that.

I have dragged this out about long enough but would add that if one is so inclined, I would be grateful and honored if a donation could be made to Morrilton Children's Home, Arkansas Children's Hospital, or St. Judes Research Hospital. They are all dear to me. And with that, I'll end this tune.

A visitation will begin at 1:00pm on Sunday, November 23, 2025, at Roller-Chenal Funeral Home with a memorial service beginning at 2:00pm with Nick Hamilton officiating.

 

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