Jesse Lee Hughes

Friday, May 10, 2019

Jesse Lee Hughes, 71, of Blytheville, passed from this life on Thursday, May 2, 2019, at the St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro. Born to Geneva Cora Hughes in Sabula, Mo., he was raised by his aunt and uncle, Anna and Herbert Fahland, from an early age following the death of his mother in an automobile accident.

Jesse was an employee of Nucor Yamoto Steel where he worked as a maintenance planner. Following his retirement, Jesse went back to work as a consultant for Nucor Yamoto and was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Jesse served his country with honor in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. He was an individual who possessed many talents. He was a pilot who flew crop dusters for Earls Flying Service out of the Steele airport and also was a pilot for the S.J. Cohen Construction Company. He was a member of the Chickasaw Shooting Sport gun club and the Classic Car Group. He owned a 1964 Chevrolet Corvette which he loved to drive and at times take it to the antique car shows. Most important in Jesse’s life was the time he would spend with his family. He loved to watch and encourage his grandchildren in whatever the current sport was at the time (baseball, basketball, etc.). The greatest talent he possessed was one not known to many people except the ones who benefited from his generosity. He would help a lot of people to meet their needs but would do so anonymously. He picked up a young man one time in the rain on the interstate who was trying to get home to his mother’s funeral. He bought him a bus ticket and since it was four hours to the time of the bus, he took him out and fed him. Jesse was always the person who would go the extra mile for others and let his actions speak for themselves.

Jesse was preceded in death by his mother and aunt and uncle, Anna and Herbert Fahland, and sister, Deborah Rikestrew.

Jesse is survived by his wife, Donna Gaye Glomski Hughes of the home; children, Janan L. Hughes of Armorel, Jason L. Hughes (Lee) of Sikeston, Mo., Gina Maria Walls (Paul) of Armorel; grandchildren, Justin Hughes, Connor Walls, Wesley Walls; sisters, Jacque Hyatt (Ron) of Katy, Texas, Jeanetta Hughes of Jacinto, Calif., Mary Ruth Fahland of Ironton, Mo., and a host of nieces, nephews and close cousins.

A gathering of friends to celebrate Jesse’s wonderful life was held Sunday, May 5, from 12 until 2 p.m. at Holiday Inn.

The family requests memorials be made to the American Cancer Society in Jesse’s memory.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.cobbfuneralhome.com