KINGSPORT -- Billy Hughes, 81, of Kingsport, went to be with the Lord Wednesday at Indian Path Medical Center.
Born in Marion, N.C., he had made Kingsport his home for most of his life.
Mr. Hughes proudly served his country in the U.S. Army.
He retired from Mead Corp. in 1994 after 41 years of service.
He was a charter member of Homeland Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years: Nana Hughes; one daughter: Gypsy Ray of Kingsport; one son and his wife: Craig and Jean Hughes of Bristol; two grandchildren: Rebekah and Clinton Thacker and David Ray; three great-grandchildren: Kaitlyn and Andrew Thacker and Dillon Ray; one sister: Ruth Shuler of Asheville, N.C.; three brothers and their wives: J.B. and Nella Mae Hughes of Church Hill, Dewey and Thelma Hughes of Old Fort, N.C., and Jimmy Hughes of Indianapolis, Ind.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William C. and Della Hughes, two brothers, and two sisters.
The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to noon Friday at Carter-Trent Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport, with the funeral service following at noon. Pastor J.W. Depew will officiate.
Burial will follow in GreeneLawn Memory Gardens in Greeneville.
Pallbearers will be Greg Jones, Larry Ray, Steve Hughes, Randy Hughes and Terry Hughes.
The family expressed special thanks to the staffs of Mountain States Hospice and Indian Path Hospital.
Those desiring may make memorials to the building fund of Homeland Baptist Church, 2504 Hawaii St., Kingsport, TN 37664, and to the Alzheimer's Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.