Harvey Robert Hughes, Jr.

Harvey Robert Hughes Jr., 86 of Lake Charles, formerly of St. Louis, Missouri was called Home to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, March 17, 2021.

He was born on August 24, 1934 in St. Louis, Missouri to Marion and Harvey Robert Hughes Sr.

He attended Wright City High School, Class of 1953 and was an active member of the school band playing the clarinet. After high school he was employed as a machinist until his enrollment into the United States Navy. It was by chance he met the love of his life after being stood up on a double date. He confidently asked a room full of people if anyone would like to accompany him on a date; Mary Elizabeth Wells obliged him. For their second date, they attended church together and the rest is history.

While enlisted in the Navy, he worked on the U.S.S. Rushmore and was somewhere in the Arctic when his first child was born. He was then assigned to Nuclear School in Black Feet, Idaho prior to joining the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise in the yards across from Norfolk and has the honor of being a plank owner as he was still part of the crew at the commissioning service. He was on board for several Mediterranean cruises and was part of the crew performing his part during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He received an honorable discharge after 10 years of service. Upon leaving the Navy, he enrolled in Piedmont Bible College, earning a Batchelor’s in Theology. Gospel Light Baptist Church in Walkertown, N.C, ordained him as a minister after his graduation from Piedmont. He worked as a stateside missionary, through the local church in Virginia Beach, VA, Charleston, S.C. and then Bremerton, Washington before retiring back to Missouri.

Although his employment revolved around his faith, he was as equally dedicated to his family as a husband, father, and grandfather. He enjoyed spending time with his family and leading by example that faith and family go hand in hand. Mother never approved, but he enjoyed hitting the roads on his motorcycle, many of his grandchildren got to go for a ride with him but always had to be wearing shoes and a helmet. Mom went with him sharing the ministry of God to nursing homes but stayed home when he went to the local prison to hold weekly Bible studies. He was also deeply involved with the V.F.W. and attended Faith Baptist in Louisiana, Missouri.

He was welcomed into Heaven by his wife of 64 years, Mary Elizabeth Hughes; his father, Harvey R. Hughes, Sr., his mother, Marion Yenny Hughes Vithoukos, his stepmother, Thelma Powers Hughes; a great granddaughter, Mikaela Shuler; a sister, Marilyn Hughes Lentz; and a brother, Johnny Vithoulkos.

Those left to cherish his memory and live by the example of his faith; his children, Paula (Joe) Chastain, Ronnie Hughes, Carol (Gary) Shuler, Gail Hughes and Dan Pike, Dale (Rosa) Hughes, Robert (Amy) Hughes; his grandchildren, Ruth (Stephen) Lohman, Kathy (Joe) Palmer, Judy Chastain, Billy (Kayla) Chastain, Teresa Graham, Phillip (Katie) Shuler, Nathan Shuler, Becky (Paul) Sprouse, Ben (Hilary) Shuler, Richard (Eva) Lang, Reyna (Michael) Bricker, Roy (Kandace) Lang, Rex Lang, Joshua Brininger, Paulo Sotto, David (Monica) Hughes, Daniel Hughes and Lilian Nadia Martin, Christina Hughes and Hernan Jose Ortiz, Kevin Docherty and David Docherty; his great grandchildren, Lynda, Robert, Samuel, Abigail, Isabella, Zachary, Lelia, Chloe, Jane, Michael, Abigail, Gabriel, Thaddeus, Elisabeth, Anna Kate, Benjamin, Aleana, Andrew, Aaron, Aryanna, Emory Rose, Oliver, Ian, Ethan, Seth, Laela, Kara, Joseph, Warrick, Alex, Austin, Crixus, Catherine, Camila, Emanuel, Claire, Kayden, Cooper, Roanan, and Reese; great great grandchildren, Bryson, Braylyn, and Josalyn; a sister Diana (Bob) Vithoulkos Lentz and a brother Joseph Hughes.

The family will welcome friends on Sunday, March 28, 2021 at Bellview Baptist Church of Westlake beginning at 7pm to 8pm. Visitation will resume Monday, March 29, 2021 at 9am until time of service. A Funeral Service led by Philip Shuler, Pastor Randy Monroe, and Pastor Jerry Parmentier will begin at 10am. As a Navy Veteran who had an avid love of riding motorcycles, the family opens an invite to anyone who would like to escort him to his final resting place at Central Louisiana Veteran Cemetery in Leesville, LA. His graveside services will begin at 1:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to make a donation in his honor to:  Faith Baptist Church, 2101 Georgia Street, Louisiana, MO  63353, phone number (573)754-5278.