Mildred Pearl Hughes

MISSOULA - Mildred "Millie" Hughes died on September 17, 2011 of natural causes at Community Medical Center surrounded by her family.

Millie was born on June 25, 1931 to Walter and Lena Williams in Hamilton, MT the fourth of five children.

Millie grew up in Hamilton and on December 30, 1950 she married Chalmer A. Hughes of Idaho. They moved to Missoula and quickly added five boys to their young family. In June of 1968 they packed up their five sons and moved to Anchorage, AK. Millie returned to Missoula in 1973 where she lived the rest of her life.

Millie loved to go fishing and on camping trips. She was still camping last summer at the age of 79. She kept everyone laughing with her "young at heart" attitude toward life.

She so looked forward to trips to Fairbanks, AK every two years to visit her two sons and families who remained there. She was ready for a ride on an ATV as well as on an airboat. She loved lemon bars, pineapple upside cake, and homemade noodles. She especially enjoyed her grandchildren and remained close to them always. Her boys played many practical jokes on her through the years. They grew so big and she was so little, but they rarely got the best of her!

The family surprised her with a birthday party this June when she turned eighty. Grandchildren and great grandchildren came from as far away as North Carolina to help her celebrate with friends and family who live nearby. It was a special time and one that her family will remember for years to come.

Preceding Millie in death were her parents; her son, Steve Hughes; her sisters, Juanita McCleary and Vi Talbot; her brother, Ralph Williams; and her husband, Chalmer Hughes. She is survived by her brother, Roy Williams, of Missoula; her sons, Stan (and Joelle) Hughes and Ken (and Melody) Hughes, of Fairbanks, AK; her sons, Mark Hughes and Bruce Hughes, of Missoula, MT and many grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. We loved her well and she loved us back even better.