John A. Hughes, Jr.
John A. Hughes, Jr. passed away on July 4, 2024 at the age of 92.
John was born on Oct. 19, 1931, in Filer, Idaho to John A. Hughes and Mary (Smith) Hughes. He grew up in and around McPherson, Kansas, graduating from McPherson High School. He attended McPherson College and Washburn University, Topeka, Ks. He was also a veteran of the Navy Hospital Corps and the Korean War. He spent 50 years in the flour milling industry in Quality Control and Research and Development. He started at Rodney Flour Mill in McPherson, Ks. When Rodney was purchased by Seaboard Milling, John was several transferred several times ending up at Chattanooga, Tn., where he was responsible for creating and running a new lab. After 25 years, he made a career change, moving to Denton, Texas and joining Morrison Mills in Denton, eventually becoming Vice President of Operation. After 12 years there he made another career change where John and Janet became entrepreneurs in Holiday Island, Arkansas as owners and operators of a grocery store and landlords. After three years, the flour milling industry pulled him back. He sold the business and was again in charge of the flour mill lab, first in Statesville, NC and then in Roanoke, Va., where he retired. Retirement meant working half days at his son's business, Hughes Cabinetry, Fort Worth, Tx., working until almost a few months ago when dementia made it impossible.
All the years he was associated with the flour milling business, he was active in the Cereal and Grain Association, holding different offices in local chapters. While living in Chattanooga, Tennessee, he and Janet were very active square dancers. John was the Star Twirlers first president, but always continued being active in Chattanooga's overall square-dancing community. He was also active in forming a state organization that hosted a state convention.
John and Janet were also charter members of Hixson Presbyterian Church.
John was preceded in death by his oldest grandchild, Darah Dameron Card (Bryan) and his brother, Wayne D. Hughes.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Janet Bolton Hughes; daughter, Debra Dameron (Dan) of Soddy Daisy, Tennessee; son, John A. Hughes, III (Linda) of Crowley, Texas. He left three grandchildren, Dale Dameron (Heather), Nashville, Tennessee, Stephanie Hughes Russell (James) and Stephen Hughes (Jennie), both of Fort Worth. Also surviving are great-grandchildren, Lane and Grant Card, and Daniel and Luke Dameron of Tennessee, and Layla, Jack and Shaylee Russell of Texas.
Many thanks for all the prayers for John. A big thank you to the organizations that helped in caring for him: In Home Connect, American Home Care Solution, Heart 2 Heart Hospice (both Fort Worth and Cleburne Group), Anchor Way Senior Care Home (Crowley). Such caring, loving people in caring for John and giving such support to Janet. Thank you.
A celebration of life will be at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 21, in Live Oak Chapel at Greenwood, 3100 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76107.