Funeral Mass for Michael Joseph Hughes Jr 79 of Palm Grove Court in South Daytona will be at 11:00 am on Friday October 7 at St. Paul?s Catholic Church. His family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 6-8 pm in the chapel of Baggett & Summers Funeral Home.
Mr. Hughes died peacefully at his home after a lenghthly illness surrounded by his loving family. Mr. Hughes was born of Irish parents in Coventry England. He grew up in the Glen of Aherlow Co. Tipperary Ireland and attended Aherlow National School and The Christian Brothers Monastery in Tipperary.
In 1940 he was awarded a First Honors Certificate for violin at The Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin. Mr Hughes loved Irish music and Irish dancing and as a teenager he enjoyed playing with musical groups at local dances
Mr. Hughes came to America in 1950 and settled in Connecticut. He served in the U.S. Army and received an honorable discharge prior to becoming a U.S. citizen.
Mr. Hughes lived in Southbury Ct. and was employed at the Summers Brass Company Waterbury Ct.for several years before moving to Florida in 1963. Mr. Hughes worked in Daytona Beach Fl. At General Electric Co. when it was involved in the space program. When the space program was phased out Mr. Hughes worked for air conditioning and heating maintenance at ERAU for several years then left to work at Stetson University when the Edmunds Activity Center was built. He was a member of St. Paul Catholic Church . he loved his family his children and especially his grandchildren. He was their greatest supporter at all of their sporting events and was a familiar figure at almost all Father Lopez basketball games and the girls softball games. In 2004 The Father Lopez girls varsity Basketball team played in the State playoffs and then the final four Mr. Hughes was at every game. He proudly cheered them on in Lakeland when they made it to the final playoff against Benjamin.
Mr. Hughes enjoyed deer hunting in North Carolina and fishing for salmon and halibut in Sitka Alaska with his son who was stationed there at the time with the U.S. Coast Guard Mr. Hughes was known for his expressive blue eyes and quick wit and enjoyed conversation and people. He embodied the spirit of the Irish and proudly shared this with everyone he met.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years Pauline. His children MaryJane Prosser Steve Joanne M. Smith Tim Michael J. Hughes III Anne-Marie all of South Daytona. David S. Hughes Beth Elizabeth City N.C.; Kathleen B. Kohlbeck Mike St. Augustine Fl. Jeffrey P. Hughes Sarah Greenacres Fl. And thirteen grandchilderen: Andy and Noah Prosser Katie Tim and Kellie Smith Joey and Sean Hughes Emma and Hannah Hughes Connor and Mackenzie Kohlbeck Sister: Mary B. Lachat South Daytona.
Several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers donations to St. Paul Catholic Church or to The Father Lopez Catholic High School Building Fund would be much appreciated. Connor & Mackenzie