Mary Louise Hughes was born February 26, 1922 to Stella and Charles Hughes in Colorado Springs. Charles moved his family to Tongue Creek near Cedaredge, Colorado, to a small farm. Mary attended the one room schoolhouse at the far end of the valley with a handful of other students, riding her horse to and from. She recalled how the teacher would set a galvanized tub of water on the wood burning stove that would heat the small schoolroom. The students could then place Mason jars, filled with soup from home, in the water to warm for their lunch. That was how a “hot lunch” was done in those days. The Hughes family got new member, Charles, Mary’s younger brother, whom would love her and terrorize her in the coming years. She recalled becoming so mad at his teasing that she threw a hatchet his way, narrowly missing him, and shuddered, thinking “What if I had actually hit him with it.”
The family moved to a large house on Main Street in Cedaredge where she would make many friends, the Roseberrys and the Phippenys were particularly close friends. They were members of the Methodist church and Mary attended many church outings and church camp on Grand Mesa. She sang for church gatherings, weddings and the like, and played piano as well. Graduating High School in 1940, she held a number of various jobs, from packing apples at the fruit packing plant, to telephone operator for a time. At age 19, she went to Colorado Springs to receive nurse’s training, but contracted pneumonia and was unable to finish. She moved to San Francisco, working as civil servant dispensing ration books. Soon, she was married and gave birth to her first son, Bill. It was the time of World War II, and that marriage would not last. Mary returned to Cedaredge.
Mary continued to work various jobs, but it was while she was a driving examiner that she met the love of her life, Elmer. Elmer came in for his driver’s license examination, driving a large International pickup truck. She climbed up into that huge truck, and met Elmer, who would become her future husband. They dated, dancing being a particular favorite date night activity. They, along with Elmer’s brothers and sisters would often go to “Pea Green”, in Delta, for a night of dancing. Swing and the Jitterbug were the dances of the day, and they sure could “Cut a Rug”.
Mary and Elmer were married July 18, 1948. In 1949, they welcomed their first daughter, Linda. Followed by Rod, Jan, Pat, Maureen, and Kelly; seven kids in all.
Mary loved family and many memories revolve around family gatherings and family meals. Mary carried on the White family favorite of Chicken and Noodles as a family meal. Grandma White would roll out dough for noodles and have them hanging throughout the house to dry before cutting. This was a tradition and favorite in Mary’s house as well.
Bill’s fondest memories of his mother are when Mary would clean house and do laundry she would play the phonograph so she could dance and sing while cleaning. All her girls do this as well.
Mary became as close to her sister-in-laws as to any sisters, and they used to experiment with the latest beauty techniques. Linda remembers her Mom and Margie dyeing their hair with henna and applying bright red lipstick, both looking like Lucille Ball when finished. Luckily, they both returned to their natural brown color, Mary striving to keep that color up until a few months ago.
Mary and Elmer moved from the Western slope to the Denver area in 1960, raising their 7 children in a 3 bedroom 1 bath home in Englewood.
Mary was always seen with an apron on when in the kitchen, which was where she would spend most of her time. Her son Rod would sneak up behind her and untie her apron, at which time she would chase him around the kitchen with a wooden spoon.
Pat recalls her favorite times with her mother, was when they were cooking fried chicken. Mary was trying to teach her how to make chicken gravy, telling her to “add more milk, more milk, keep stirring, keep stirring, get the lumps out!” She was so patient and understanding when the gravy wasn’t quite perfect.
Mary was such a loving mother making time for each one of her kids. Jan remembers her helping her with her 5th grade fire prevention poster. Jan won 1st place and was awarded with a tour of the firehouse. What a proud moment it must have been for Mary.
Maureen was married to Chris in 1984. Maureen and Chris treasure the memory of playing pinochle with Mary and Elmer on cold, snowy weekends. It was always the guys against the girls. Of course the girls won most of the time, only because they had secret hand signals.
Kelly loved the time when his Mom and Dad and sister Maureen went on a trip back east in their camper. He remembers his Mom cooking breakfast and the wonderful smells that came to him while waiting for his meal.
Mary and Elmer were married for 41 years when Elmer passed away in 1989. Mary went to live with her oldest daughter, Linda, for a time and then lived with youngest daughter, Maureen, these past 14 years. Even though she missed Elmer, she was always surrounded by her kids, 11 grandchildren and great grandchildren who adored her.
Mary was a kind and generous person; she will truly be missed by her family and friends.
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