Gary Allen Hughes

Gary Allen Hughes of Rocheport, MO, passed away Monday, May 24, 2021. Gary was born in Humansville, MO on June 22, 1948 to Mary Margaret Rowden Hughes and Eugene Hughes. Gary was married on June 22, 1968 to the love of his life and wife of 52 years, Kathleen Anne Boll.

Gary joined the US Navy as an E-3 electrician in October 1968. His first assignment was aboard a fleet tug in the Pacific. In 1971 Gary was accepted into the Naval Engineering and Scientific Education Program (NESEP) and enrolled in the electrical engineering program at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Gary received both his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering and his Master’s Degree in Nuclear Engineering in 1974. After graduation, Gary returned to the Navy as an Ensign and was assigned to the USS Scamp, a nuclear-powered submarine based in San Diego. His service time included 11 years of active duty and 14 1/2 years in the Naval Reserves. He retired from the Navy in 1994 as a Commander. During this time, Gary returned to the University of Missouri in Columbia and earned a PHD in Nuclear Engineering in 1981, then joined the team at the Callaway Nuclear Plant in Callaway Missouri, helping them bring the plant online. He was also honored as an Outstanding Young Man of America in 1981.

At Callaway, Gary worked as a Safety Engineer. He became well-known throughout the nuclear industry as a pioneer and expert in evaluating the causes of human performance shortfalls in nuclear plant operating and maintenance practices. He received two awards from the Electric Power Research Institute for achievements in R&D related to the study of circadian rhythms and their effect on mistakes made during shift work within the nuclear industry. He often presented technical papers and served as a subject matter expert in a number of areas on international teams that visited the former Soviet Union and Europe to provide training including Selefield, England, Rome, Italy, Rio de Janeiro Brazil and Bratislava, Slovakia. In the USA, he worked closely with the DOE on the implementation of the National Clean Energy Smart Grid.

Gary worked with the University of Missouri Nuclear School of Engineering, contributing to research, education and the training needs of MU Engineering students, mentoring graduate students and teaching occasional classes. In 2000, he was given an Outstanding Alumni Award.

On a local level, Gary was elected to the Midway School Board in 1982. Gary and Kathy were licensed foster parents to more than 20 children. In 1986 they founded the Rainbow House, an emergency children’s shelter in Columbia, MO. He was a 33rd Degree Mason and a Shriner.

Gary’s life was always defined by his Christian faith. He was a 42-year member of Locust Grove United Methodist Church in Midway, serving in many capacities throughout the years, including being a Lay Servant. He served on the United Methodist Wesley Board.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Eugene Hughes. He is survived by his wife Kathy Hughes of Midway/Rocheport; children, Sharon Leon of Fort Worth, TX, Deborah Hitzeroth (Ryan) of Alexandria, VA, Rick Hughes (Grace) of Fort Worth, TX, Stephanie Williams (Jeff) of Elizabethton,TN, Heidi Netemeyer (Brent) of Rocheport, MO, Eva Hughes of Salem, MO, and Kristal Ziegelbein (Matt) of Wichita, KS. He is also survived by 14 beloved grandchildren, and two sisters, Mary Jane Kornitjschuk (Alex) of Portland, OR and Jean Ann Hernandez of Bakersfield, CA.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made to Rainbow House http://rainbowhouseinc.org/donate , Re-Member: https://www.re-member.org/donate.aspx., or Midway Locust Grove Methodist Church memorial fund https://www.facebook.com/mwlocustgrove/

Please mark any donations in memory of Gary Hughes.

The family will welcome friends between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on June 26, 2021, at Locust Grove Methodist Church, 2600 N. Locust Grove Church Road in Midway, MO. A celebration of life will be held at the church at 3 p.m. with fellowship and light refreshments to follow.