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James (Jimmy) Leon Hughes died Saturday, June 12, 2004, at an Eastland healthcare facility. Services were held at Bakker Funeral Home, Monday, June 14, 2004, at 2:00 p.m. Rev. Jim Wright officiated. Burial was in the Murray Cemetery, Carbon, Texas.
Jimmy was born December 19, 1922, in Desdemona, Texas, the fourth child of seven to James Elmer and Kizzie (Sparkman) Hughes. He graduated from Desdemona High School and attended Ranger Junior College, Sul Ross University, Hardin-Simmons, Southwest Texas State University and Howard Payne.
Jimmy received his Bachelors of Science Degree and his Masters of Education from Howard Payne. He married Oma Rae McClellan on August 10, 1943, in Eastland. They lived in Pyote and Kermit until 1954 when they moved to Carbon. They taught school and farmed in Carbon until moving to Eastland in 1993. Oma Rae preceded him in death in 2000.
During WWII Jimmy taught navigation in the Army Air Corp. For 41 years he taught in public schools including Carbon, Eastland, Cisco, Ranger and Rising Star. Jimmy was the Carbon School Superintendent from 1967-1974 and served as Eastland County Superintendent from 1974-1978. Jimmy was a member of the Carbon Methodist Church until its closing. He served not only as a Sunday School teacher but also on numerous boards. AT the time of his death, he was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Eastland. Jimmy loved helping young people, farming and sports.
Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; two sisters, Loree Nugent and Oleta Foster; by a brother, Buddy; and by his grandson, Doug Hughes.
Jimmy is survived by two sons and daughers-in-law, Ronnie and Karen Hughes of Clyde and Donald and Nancy Hughes of Eastland; four grandchildren, Matt Hughes and wfe, Brandi of Norman, Oklahoma and Georgia, Caroline, and Charles Hughes of Eastland; by a great grandson, Kobey of Norman; two sisters, Florence Tarrence of Stephenville and Imogene Rogers of Many, Louisiana; many nieces and nephews and numerous friends and former students.
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Travis Hays (1985)
I can without hesitation say Mr Hughes was one of if not my favorite teacher of all time. He can always be remembered with chalk dust all over him since an eraser was a distraction he would just wipe his correction off with his hand. He could control his students by simply saying "That's gonna cost you five" meaning conduct points. This is one of the few classes I can honestly say I enjoyed attending and to this day I use Mr Hughes' teaching tactics with my son. God Speed Mr Hughes and Rest in PeaceTravis Hays Your eternal student you will forever be in my thoughts.
Judy Collins (West) (1968)
Mr Hughes is was and always will be one of my greatest inspirations. I have used Mr. Hughes as my guide to working with youth for the past 38 years. I even had the privilege of passing on some of his wisdom to a coach that took the advice. The next year that coach's team went to state. I like to think that the wisdom of Mr. Hughes helped to get that them there. When I returned to Texas at the age of 24, I saw Mr. Hughes, while talking to him he told me I was old enough to call him Jimmy. But I could never do that he is and always will be "Mr. Hughes."Frank Boykin (1984)
Mr. Hughes was a great influence to me he never lost hope in me and showed me I could accomplish anything if I stuck with it and ignored the distractions. I had and will always have respect for him he will be missed.