Denise Elaine Hughes

Denise Elaine Hughes, 59, of Lake Charles passed away Monday, October 16, 2017 in a local hospital after a most courageous fight against cancer.

She was born in Port Arthur, TX and has lived most of her life in Lake Charles. She was a graduate of Sulphur High School and studied Criminal Justice at McNeese State University.   She retired with thirty-four years of dedicated service to the Lake Charles City Police Department where she was the first woman to earn the ranks of both Lieutenant and Captain. She received the 1985 Merit award, 1997 Supervisor of the Year award, as well as the 2007 Supervisor of the Year award. Following retirement she began as a deputy with the Calcasieu Parish Sherriff’s Office where she loved working as a bailiff for Judge Robert L. Wyatt. Miss Hughes spent many years working out and actively supported local cancer walks in her spare time. She spent her weekends playing armchair quarterback, yelling at the referees during college football and was especially loyal to the LSU Tigers and the Dallas Cowboys. She was a woman who loved music, travel, adventure and good times: having gone skydiving with her best friend at 10:10 AM on 10/10/10; countless trips with her “adopted” family and friends, Mexico, Vegas, “the best time of her life” trip to New York for the Classic Concert this past July and most recently her evening with Chris Issak at the Golden Nugget for his concert. Her most memorable times were planned for and shared with her “adopted children” on their special days spent together.

As a woman in uniform, Miss Hughes portrayed an image, always tough, when in fact she had a very soft side that mostly only her closest friends were privileged to see. She will be most remembered for her kind, loving heart, the joy she found in giving to others and her love for her friends, family and her baby dogs.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her father, A.C. Hughes and wife Wanda of Huntington, TX; mother, Phyllis Hughes of Sulphur; brother, Fred Hughes of Youngsville; sister, Linda McMillin and husband Brian of Sulphur; nieces, Leigh Anne Phillips, Brianne Nicole Phillips, Darbi Denise McMillin, Hannah Danielle Hughes and Hayley Renee Hughes; nephew, Justin McMillin and wife Leah; three beloved baby dogs, Jake, Beau and Chewy and many friends and colleagues.

Miss Hughes also leaves behind her “adopted family”: her dearest best friend, Laura Henry and husband Jeff; their children, and her “adopted” children, Hannah Newman Carson and Meryl Lorraine Henry along with her “adopted” 2nd mother, Joyce McKeehan.

She was preceded in death by maternal grandmother, Dorothy Yahr; paternal grandparents, Dennis and Pearl Steele; two aunts, Marion Moyer and Joyce Steele; and her “adopted” other dad, James “Jim” McKeehan, Sr.

The family of Miss Hughes wishes to extend special thanks to “her tribe”, those most special friends who have been by her side from the very beginning; Laura and Jeff Henry, Susie Book, Mike Johnson, Jim Jones, Raquel Landry, Joël Redd, Jessica Stickell Miller and Crystal Weaver for their never ending love and support in their care of Denise.

“Her tribe” would like to thank Dr. Mohammad Kahn, his PA Lacey Vasilakis, Leah Marcantel and all of her “favorite” nurses of Christus Hematology and Oncology Treatment Center for their excellence in care and compassion.

Memorial services will be at 6:00 PM Thursday, October 19, 2017 in the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. A gathering of friends Thursday will be from 2:00 PM until 6:00 PM in the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made to: SWLA Oncology Support Foundation, P.O. Box 410, Lake Charles, LA 70602.