David Ray Hughes

Dr. David Ray Hughes (“Doc”), age 80, flew home to be with his Lord, on Tuesday, December 12^th, 2018.  He is survived by his loving wife, Patricia Ann (Fultz), two daughters, Chele (John) Miles, and Amber Hughes, six grandchildren, Joshua (Diana) Cleveland, Allison (Robert) Bruce, Jae (Benjamin) Stoll, Ellerie Cleveland, Sally (Gregory) Spurgeon, Joseph “Jed” (Olivia) Kauffmann, and five great-grandchildren, Ian Cleveland, Kate Cleveland, Levi Cleveland, Hayden Bruce, and Noah Cleveland.

Doc was born October 25, 1938, at home, in Motley County, Texas, somewhere close to the small country town of Roaring Springs.  He was the son of Mary Louise (Thacker) Hughes and David Walter Hughes, a middle child, surrounded by loving sisters, Marilynn O’Neal and Gayla Lawson, and raised by his loving grandfather, Guy Boureland Thacker, a good part of his life in Roaring Springs. 

Doc met the love of his life, Patricia Ann (Fultz), which he nicknamed “Patsy”, when they were in the 7^th grade while attending school in Galveston, Texas.  They married in 1960, while Doc was attending veterinary school at Texas A&M University and Patsy was teaching elementary school in Navasota, Texas.  Soon after graduation, Doc and Patsy moved to Slaton, Texas where he built and established Slaton Veterinary Clinic.  Several years later he was elected Mayor of Slaton and served as the youngest mayor in Texas History.  When asked if he would like to run, he said “If it won’t cost me more than the ink in this pen to sign, I’ll do it”. 

Through Doc’s life he encountered many adventures… Brazil, Australia, Holland, and Rhodesia. Patsy preferred places within the USA, so Texas, Tennessee, Arizona, Iowa, Illinois, Idaho, and South Carolina had to do.  His last stop was Alabama, to be closer to children and grandchildren.  He loved the Tennessee River and planned to do quite a lot of fishing when he retired, at age 70.

Services will be held at Legacy Chapel Funeral Home at 16 Hughes Road, Madison, Alabama.  Visitation from 12-2pm and funeral following at 2pm.  All who knew him are welcome to attend.