Carl “Wayne” Hughes was born on April 16, 1929, and passed away on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at Labette Health. He went to Heaven at 7:40 a.m. that day.
Wayne graduated high school in 1949 in Neodesha, where he was a star athlete. After graduation, Wayne married Mary Alice McNutt on June 19, 1949. They were married for 62 years.
They had four children: Bill (Linda) Hughes, Barbara (Charles) Wright, Virginia (Charles) Blackburn and Nancy (Karl) Thornton, all of Thayer; 11 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great-grandchildren.
Wayne worked for Standard Oil Refinery from 1950 to 1970 in Neodesha. He was a licensed plumber for many years at Thayer Farm and Ranch in Thayer, and Industrial Crating, in Thayer and St. Paul. He was a certified EMT, and ran the Thayer Ambulance Service for several years. He was also a hunter safety instructor for four years. Wayne served as the mayor of Thayer for 10 years, served on the city council for many years and initiated and finished the project for the new Thayer Lake named Reece-Hughes Thayer Lake 2.
After all this, he retired at the age of 86. Wayne was a member of Thayer Christian Church and spent the majority of his life supporting Thayer in many aspects.
Through the years, Wayne enjoyed watching all his children in their sports activities and school programs.
He raised many vegetables in his garden, and, most of all, enjoyed target practice and going to the 100-mile garage sale every year.
He loved hunting squirrels and rabbits, making his delicious biscuits and gravy, eating his fried squirrels and rabbits and watching lots of western movies on television.
Wayne was thankful for his wonderful neighbor, Leona Smedley, who always took time to care and visit. She kept him supplied with chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin pies and her yummy maple rings.
He also loved his dog and best buddy, Lady. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Alice (McNutt), in May 2011; his parents, Sam and Lula (McCormick) Hughes; and his siblings, Gene, Homer, Sammy, David, Charles and Patsy Ann.
A celebration of life will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 13, at the Thayer Christian Church. The family greeted visitors Thursday at the church. The family suggests memorials to the ladies’ kitchen ministry at the church. Make checks payable to Thayer Christian Church with “Kitchen” in the memo line.
Wayne was a great man who will be dearly missed by all his family and friends.
To leave a special message for the family, visit www.loranfawcettfuneralhome. com. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Loran Fawcett Chapel.
