JAMES "JIMMY" LEON HUGHES died on June 12, 2004,
with burial at the Murray Cemetery in Carbon, TX.
Jimmy was born Dec. 19, 1922, in Desdemona, TX, the fourth
child of seven to James Elmer & Kizzie (Sparkman) Hughes.
He graduated from Desdemona High School and attended Ranger
Jr. College, Sul Ross University, Hardin-Simmons, Southwest
Texas State University, and Howard Payne.
Jimmy received his Bachelors of Science and his Masters of
Education from Howard Payne. He married Oma Mae 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 Mae preceded him in death in 2000.
During WWII, Jimmy taught navigation in the U.S. 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 1967-74 and served as
Eastland County Superintendent from 1974-78.
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
member of First United Methodist Church of Eastland. Jimmy
loved helping young people, farming, and sports.
Jimmy is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Ronnie
and Karen Hughes of Clyde and Donald and Nancy Hughes of
Eastland; by four grandchildren, Matt Hughes and his wife
Brandi of Norman, OK, and Georgia, Caroline, and Charles
Hughes of Eastland; by a great-grandson, Kobey of Norman;
by two sisters, Florence Tarrence of Stephenville and
Imogene Rogers of Many, Louisiana; by many nieces and
nephews; and by numerous friends and former students.
Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents; by his wife;
by two sisters, Loree Nugent & Oleta Foster; by a brother,
Buddy; and by his grandson, Doug Hughes.