Kenneth Dale Hughes

Kenneth Hughes, 74, passed away Friday morning at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. Kenneth was born in the Brush Creek Bottoms west of Collins, Missouri on August 14, 1949, son of Leonard and Sophie (Study) Hughes. He attended school in Collins. Kenneth initially worked at Witt Printing in El Dorado Springs, and then worked at Crawford Oil Company in Humansville, driving a semi hauling gas while working as a mechanic in his own shop and taking care of cattle on their farm; eventually becoming self-employed. Kenneth thoroughly enjoyed working on his farm taking care of cattle, putting up hay, running his tractor’s and his bulldozer. Kenneth never had any plans of retirement, he liked working too much. Kenneth loved driving his semi and hauling hay with his grandson, Alex. Kenneth and Alex had some recent discussions about buying a new truck. Kenneth also really enjoyed deer hunting and fishing. Kenneth was kind to others; he really enjoyed doing things for other people. He would sometimes buy a bunch of extra watermelons and go to the local coffee shop, his daily ritual, and give them out to the other local coffee drinkers. Kenneth was gracious in that he was willing to occasionally pick up a stranger to provide a ride for their final destination, typically a surprise to his wife, Nina. When Kenneth was younger he rode horses with his daughter, Cindy, and went fishing with his younger daughter, Amy. Kenneth also found a lot of enjoyment hunting with his grandsons, Levi and Alex. Kenneth will be always be remembered for his noteworthy stories, which often comprised of a long pause with the remainder of the tale to follow and then he would toss in some witty jokes. Kenneth youngest grandson, Jacob, is not quite to level of storing telling with clever jokes but in due time. He is survived by his, wife, Nina (Stokes) Hughes. Kenneth was united in marriage to Nina on May 23rd of 1970; they shared 54 years of married together as of May 23, 2024. Kenneth and Nina had two daughters, Cindy (Hughes); Raymond McElwee with grandchild; Jacob McElwee of Braymer, Missouri and Amy (Hughes); Mike Charlton; Bolivar, Missouri with grandchildren; Alex Manning and Levi Manning. Kenneth was a member of Collins Christian Church. Kenneth was preceded in death by his mother, Sophie Hughes; his father, Leonard Hughes, his sister, Sharon Piper, her husband Carroll Piper. Memorial contributions are suggested for Durnell Chapel Cemetery.

Kenneth Dale Hughes

August 14, 1949 - May 31, 2024