Mary Jo Hughes

Mary Jo Hughes, 77, passed away on April 24, 2014 at her Tulsa, OK, Inverness Village apartment under the care of Hospice of Green Country staff. She was born on October 28, 1936 in Memphis, TN to Joe and Mary Evie (Wyckoff) McEachern.

Jo grew up in many military locations following her father’s United States Army assignments. She graduated from High School in Alexandria, VA in 1954. She attended Randoph Macon College in Lynchburg, VA and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN where she received a degree in Home Economics specializing in Textile Chemistry.

Jo began work for Baltimore City Schools as a sixth grade teacher and worked in the Johns Hopkins Hospital chemistry laboratory while her husband, Bob attended medical school. She became a full time homemaker, devoted to raising her four sons after his graduation in 1961.

Jo married Robert Hughes in 1958 in Memphis, TN. They were happily married for 55 years. She was a member of Phi Mu sorority. She served in several positions of leadership for the Sebastian County Medical Society Auxiliary. She was on the Board of the WestArk Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. For her service and leadership teaching she received the Silver Fawn award (now the Silver Beaver). She loved and enjoyed her hobbies of sewing, machine embroidery, swimming, travel, scuba diving and craft making.

Jo was preceded in death by her parents, Joe Albert and Mary Evie McEachern, and son R. Paul Hughes, III.

Jo is survived by her spouse Robert (Bob); sons Joe, John, David (Shana) Hughes of Fort Smith, AR; sister Priscilla (Larry) McAndrews of Alexandria, VA; brother Al McEachern of Mobile, AL and grandchildren Logan Thomas, Dalton Thomas, Austin Hughes.

Funeral service will be held at Faith United Methodist Church, 2901 Massard Road, Fort Smith, AR 72903 on Tuesday, April 29th, 2014 at 10:00 am conducted by Dr. Charles Armour. Services are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.

Visitation will be Monday, April 28, 2014, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at Edwards Funeral Home.

Burial will be 10:00 A.M. Thursday, May 1, 2014 at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis, TN.

Memorial Contributions may be sent to: The R. Paul Hughes III Maintenance Fund at Faith United Methodist Church, 2901, Massard Road, Fort Smith, AR 72903.