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Dewey Hughes, aged 82, of DeArmanville, Alabama, passed away on April 18, 2024, due to complications arising from liver cancer. Surrounded by his loved ones, he departed on his mother's birthday, overlooking the cherished family farm. A visitation for family and friends will begin at 10:00 am on Monday, April 22, 2024, at DeArmanville Methodist Church. The funeral service will follow at 12:00 pm, led by family friend and pastor, Reverend Paul Vick. Dewey will be laid to rest in the family cemetery on the farm. Dewey was born in Anniston, Alabama on June 24, 1941. He graduated from Oxford High School in 1959 and two years later married his high school sweetheart, Mary Jane Houston. After retiring from a career spanning three decades with Southern Natural Gas, he continued working with Hale Building Company. Even in moments of rest, his mind remained engaged, always planning the next project. Despite holding down a full-time job, he juggled the responsibilities of tending to soybeans, cattle, hay, and horses on his farm. Through it all he managed to find time for fishing resulting in his famous fish fry feasts. He is survived by his devoted wife of 62 years, Jane Houston Hughes; children, Gray Hughes (Shelley) and Amy Hughes Fender (Craig); grandchildren, Caleb Costanzo, Lauren Costanzo Fontanez (Matthew), Christopher Mark Costanzo, Suzanna Costanzo, James Gray Costanzo, Benjamin Costanzo, Caroline Irby (Steven), Austin Hughes (Sarah Reagan), Anna Rebekah Hancock (Kyler), Jacob Fender, and Hannah Fender; two great grandsons, “Hughes” Wilder Hancock and Austin “Gray” Hughes, Jr. Dewey will also be missed by many in-laws, wonderful nieces and nephews, and a host of bonus kids and grandkids who lovingly called him Papa Dew. He was blessed with lifelong friends who became family. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Lori Hughes Costanzo; parents, Nellie Fowler Hughes and Dewey Horace Hughes; brothers, James Hughes, Ted Hughes, and Ned Hughes. Pallbearers are grandsons, Caleb, Austin, Christopher, James Gray, Benjamin, Jacob, Kyler, Steven, and Matthew with honorary pallbearers, Wesley Williams and Ben Stevens. Dewey never met a stranger or dog he didn’t like. His quick wit, humor and ability to make you feel at home and welcomed earned him many friends. He spent countless hours in his garden, delivering vegetables to widows in the community even in his last few days. If he wasn’t in his garden, you would find him on his tractor doing “chores” on the farm followed closely by his loyal dogs. Dewey loved the Lord, attended church faithfully and was an example to many of how to serve God and others. He exemplified the following verse: “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” James 1:27 NLT

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Mr. Dewey Gray Hughes SR.

June 24, 1941 - April 18, 2024