Zella Hughes' Obituary
Zella Jane Hughes passed away Friday, December 27, 2019 at Corydon Specialty Care. Zella was born December 3, 1928 to Henry Tilman and Mary Ann "Annie" (Exley) Roberts near Humeston. She attended Hazel Dell and Lucerne country schools and graduated from Humeston High School Salutatorian of her class in 1947. She married Winfield "Winnie" Hughes on December 20, 1946 in Humeston. To this union, five children were born: Ruth Ann Christopher, Rae Dean (Joyce) Hughes, Kenneth (Peggy) Hughes, Elizabeth Jane "Janie" (David) Fenton and Carol Jean Mc Claflin. Their life together started on a farm near Humeston and later moved to a farm South West of Cambria. She spent her early years raising their family of five children and helping with the diversified farming operation lending a hand when needed to operate a tractor or help with milking and livestock. Winnie would tease her calling her "Freckles" knowing it would get him "that look" and it was always all hands-on deck when we heard the alarm "THE COWS ARE OUT!" That would empty the house faster than yelling FIRE! We all knew the drill. She was a member of the New Zion United Methodist Church enjoying many lifelong friendships and developed a life of service to God. She served New Zion in many ways. Being a great student of the bible, she enjoyed teaching adult Sunday school, holding the secretary position for WSCS for many years, represented New Zion at Annual Conference and participated in all the church's activities. She especially enjoyed the "God's Portion Sale" in the fall and overseeing the fund-raising dinner where her cooking skills were always appreciated. People looked forward to her home-made noodles, crescent rolls and sour cream raisin bars to name a few of her famous dishes. She loved hosting family dinners where her homemade chicken and noodles with mashed potatoes were always eagerly anticipated along with the colossal cookie extravaganza she produced every year at Christmas. Her love of gardening was always present in her life. First with a vegetable garden to feed her family and teach her children the value of work whether they wanted to pick green beans or not and later with flowers that she was so passionate about. She loved being outside taking care of her yard and flowers. One of her favorite activities in the summer evenings was dead heading her flowers. Quilting was another passion of hers, making quilts for her grandchildren and quilting for the Corydon United Methodist Church with friends once a week. She was a member of The Laplander's Quilt Guild and enjoyed traveling with her friends to Paducah, Kentucky's quilt show always marveling at the beautiful quilts and bringing home the latest sewing gadget and that unique, "can't live without" fabric for her quilt stash. Through all her life she was most proud of and her first priority were her children and their families but when the nest was empty she kept busy with community work, Farm Bureau's Women's Society, even taking a trip to the United Nations with them and also worked at the Wayne County Hospital for 25 years first as a CNA and later as a Surgical Tech. She is survived by her sister, Elda Watson; sister-in-law, Coleen Hughes; her children; grandchildren: Shane (Angie) Montgomery, Angie (Jeremy) Sanders, Jason (Emily) Hughes, Andy Hughes, Becky (Ben) Pilgrim, Tony (Jen) Fenton, Karla Fenton, Amber (Michael) Parker, Adam (Stephanie) Moore, Blake (Mallory) Mc Claflin and Shelby (Thomas) Butorac; great grandchildren: Dalton (Kaythlynn) Montgomery, Jenna Moore, Travis Moore, Dylan Hughes, Drew Fenton, Eli Fenton, Lucy Pilgrim and Sadie Pilgrim; nieces and nephews: Russell Watson, Brian (Elizabeth) Watson, Rodger (Sandy) Cox, Becky Eckart, Walter Cox, Ben Cox, Mary Etta (Dan) Spaulding, Tom (Renee) Hughes, Sharon Biskut, Mike Hughes, Tim (Michelle) Hughes, Greg (Brenda) Hughes, Jeremy Hughes and Anandi Hughes. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Leslie Hardin Roberts; sister, Zana Elizabeth Roberts; sons-in-law: Randy Mc Claflin, Donald Moore and Leo Christopher; brothers-in-law: Harold Hughes, Bennie Hughes, Wilson Cox and Norbert Watson and her sisters-in-law: Martha Hughes and Lois Cox. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 30, 2019 at Corydon United Methodist Church with Pastor Diane Olson Schroeder officiating. Interment will immediately follow at Corydon Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service from 1-2:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to New Zion Church and online condolences may be shared at www.thomasfh.com or facebook.com/thomasfuneralhome. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Zella Hughes please visit our Sympathy Store. Cemetery Details Corydon Cemetery S. West St. & Co Park Road
Corydon, IA 50060 Visitation DEC 30. 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (CST) Corydon United Methodist Church 213 W. Jackson St.Corydon, IA 50060 Funeral Service DEC 30. 2:00 PM (CST) Corydon United Methodist Church 213 W. Jackson St.Corydon, IA 50060
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