Betty J Hughes

Betty J. Hughes, 91, of Clearwater, Florida, went to be with her Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, July 7, 2023. She was much loved by her family and all who knew her. She was loving, unselfish, kind and generous and will be greatly missed. Betty is survived by her daughters; Lynda (Steve) Anderson of Richmond, Texas, Irene (Skip) Kretschmar of Utopia, Texas, and Cheryl (Ernie) Lamoureux of Clearwater, Florida. She had 10 grandchildren; Chrisie (Jonathan) Jackson, Julie (Chris) Henry, Edie (Cesar) Barreda, Julie (Clint) Purnell, Heather (Tim) McGivern, Casey (Taryn) Kretschmar, Cheri Wolfe (Randy), Jamie Rodriguez, Richelle (Shannon) Gerner and Melissa Hughes, plus 27 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother; Gerald (Shirley) Olmstead of Mt. Vernon, Washington, sister-in-law; Kathy (Mike) Tone of Tillamook, Oregon, sister-in-law; Carol Hughes of Gig Harbor, Washington, sister-in-law; PA Hughes of Seattle, Washington and brother-in-law; Curtis Adams of Coos Bay, Oregon. Additionally, many nieces, nephews and cousins from Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Iowa and Georgia.

She is preceded in death by her husband; Martin J. Hughes, Jr., sons; Marty and Tim Hughes, grandson; Keith Hughes, parents; George & Myrtle Olmstead, half-brother; Kenneth Whelchel, nephew; Gerald Olmstead, Jr., 2 brothers-in-law; Robert Hughes and Michael Hughes, and sister-in-law; Eileen Adams.

Betty graduated from Bothell High School in Washington in 1949 and soon after gladly stepped into her role as an excellent wife and mother. In 1964, her husband, Martin accepted a job transfer to Tampa, Florida where she soon adapted to her new life in the south. She loved the beach and her grandchildren remember many happy mornings when she would buy them donuts to share under the Rockaway Pier at Clearwater Beach.

Betty worked as a clerk at St. Petersburg Community College, retiring in 1996. She was the longest living member of Sylvan Abbey Church where she and husband Martin joined in 1965. Betty had been a weekly volunteer in the food pantry and also served for a year as the President of the Women of UMC.

In Betty’s words, “Each new addition to our family has been a highlight. I enjoy living near and swimming in the Gulf, macrame and ceramics.”

In lieu of flowers, donations to Accent Hospice Care of Pinellas County or

Sylvan Abbey Church are much appreciated.