Feb 28, 2013

Mary Lou Hughes, 80, of Graysville, Richhill Township, died at 8:25 a.m. Thursday, February 28, 2013, in her home, following an illness of two years and having been seriously ill for the past two months.

She was born February 20, 1933, in Wind Ridge, a daughter of the late Cecil Ray and Jeneva Letha White Jacobs, and had resided in the Richhill Township area all her life.

Mrs. Hughes attended the former Richhill Township High School in Wind Ridge.

She was an active member of Unity Presbyterian Church at Graysville, where she served as the clerk of sessions for the past 20 years, and was the church treasurer for more than 20 years. She also served as a deacon and an elder and was a former Sunday school teacher and youth choir director.

Mrs. Hughes was a member, past master and former treasurer of the former Harvey’s Grange 1444, a member of the Graysville Volunteer Fire Department, where she had served as the secretary and assistant treasurer for more than 30 years, and a member of Graysville VFD Auxiliary, where she also served as the treasurer for more than 30 years, and a member of the Greene County Fireman’s Association.

She and her husband raised sheep and beef cattle in Richhill Township all of their adult life, and she was formerly employed as an office manager for Drs. Greenlee, Buterbaugh and Cruz, all in Waynesburg, for several years. She also had done survey work for the state of Pennsylvania and U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Mrs. Hughes also will be remembered as the first female to drive a full-size school bus in the county for West Greene School District, having made several trips to downtown Pittsburgh in a seven-year span.

She was last employed for more than 25 years as the secretary/treasurer for Richhill Township, prior to retiring in 2007.

On June 16, 1950, she married R. Eugene Hughes, who survives.

Also surviving are a daughter, Diane Hughes of Washington; a son, Alvin, husband of Mary Lee Hughes of Woodland Hills, Calif.; three grandchildren, Jason, husband of Claudia Hughes, Erin and Jonathan Hughes; three great-grandchildren, Amber, Ashley and Khamren Hughes; two sisters, Judy, wife of Darell McMasters of Southington, Ohio, and Marilyn, wife of Tom Pietras of Warren, Ohio; four brothers, Cecil Eugene, husband of Velma Jacobs of Graysville, Merrill, husband of Carol Jacobs of Holbrook, Shirl Jacobs, companion of Judi Gibson of Nemacolin, and Francis, husband of Bonnie Jacobs of Graysville (Rutan); two brothers-in-law, Byron Hughes of Holbrook and Harold Grimes of Cresson; two sisters-in-law, Patti Jacobs of Rutan and Carolyn Hughes of Washington; and several nieces and nephews.

Deceased, in addition to her parents, are a sister, Shirley Jacobs, twin of Shirl, who died at birth, and two brothers, Glenn and John Jacobs.

At the request of the family, there will be no public visitation. Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 3, in Unity Presbyterian Church, Graysville, with Pastors David Lowe and Walt Stevenson co-officiating, with former members of Harvey’s Grange 1444 and the Graysville VFD participating. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to either Hospice Care of the Washington Hospital, 155 Wilson Avenue, Washington, PA 15301, Unity Presbyterian Church, or Graysville VFD, both in Graysville, PA 15337. Arrangements are under the direction of Rush Funeral Home Inc., Rogersville. Family and friends may view the obituary and send condolences at www.rushfuneralhomeinc.com.