Shirley Hughes, Lifelong SE Alaskan, Dies in Sitka
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- Category: Obituaries
- Created on Thursday, 29 July 2021 22:10
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Shirley Marie Hughes
Shirley Marie Hughes, 82, went to be with her savior, Christ Jesus, on July 21, 2021. She died peacefully at her home in Sitka with family beside her.
She was born Nov. 20, 1938, in Juneau to Orrin and Myrtle (Feero) Edwards. She spent the majority of her childhood in Skagway, and graduated from Skagway Public School in 1956. Shortly after graduation she married Kenneth Justin. His work for C&R Builders took them to Juneau where their daughter Sharon was born.
In 1957 they came to Sitka for Ken’s work on the construction of the Alaska Lumber and Pulp mill. During the next six years three more children were born to them: Randall, Kenneth Jr. and Sheila.
Her marriage to Ken ended in 1973, and in 1974 she and the kids moved to Juneau, where she started working at a friend’s bakery. That move led her to marry the love of her life Samuel Hughes in 1977. Together they owned and operated Sam’s Bakery until they retired and moved to Lexington, Tennessee, to raise cows.
After Sam’s passing in 2017 Shirley moved back to Sitka to be close to family. She enjoyed Bible study, jigsaw puzzles, knitting, crocheting, playing games and, in Tennessee, feeding her beloved cows peppermint candies. Her cows came running when they heard the sound of a peppermint candy being unwrapped.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Hughes; brother David Edwards; sons Randall Justin and Kenneth Justin Jr., and daughter Sheila Chatriand.
She is survived by brothers John Edwards of Skagway and Alan Edwards (Lisa) of Altavista,Virginia; daughter Sharon Byrd (Don) of Sitka; and granddaughters Miranda Littlefield (Victor) and Melinda Cagle (Jamey) of Sitka, Amanda Ebert (Jason) of Bozeman, Montana, Kari Neiman (Bob) of Plains, Montana, Samantha Strecker (Jordan) of Big Horn, Montana, and Bobbi Neumann (Tanner) of Whitehall, Montana.
Great-grandchildren include Alex Cagle, Ellie Cagle, Chloe Cagle, Hunter Littlefield, Lilly Ebert, Katie Ebert, Allie Ebert, Finn Neiman, Dillon Neiman, Westyn Strecker, Tenley Strecker and Grayson Neumann; and the great-great-grandchild is Layla Robinson.
Her family was blessed to have her back in Sitka to enjoy having five generations of family all together for the last days of her life.
Due to COVID the family will hold a private service at a later date.
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AK COVID-19
At a Glance
(updated 5-30-2023)
By Sentinel Staff
The state Department of Health and Social Services has posted the following update on the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Alaska as of 12:15 pm Tuesday, May 30.
New cases as of Tuesday: 165
Total cases (cumulative) statewide – 298,078
Total (cumulative) deaths – 1,468
Case Rate per 100,000 – 22.64
To visit the Alaska DHSS Corona Response dashboard website click here.
COVID in Sitka
The Sitka community level is now "Low.'' Case statistics are as of Tuesday.
Case Rate/100,000 – 58.70
Cases in last 7 days – 5
Cumulative Sitka cases – 3,424
Deceased (cumulative) – 10
The local case data are from Alaska DHSS.
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20 YEARS AGO
June 2003
Sitka Community Hospital board of directors has asked SEARHC to stop providing most health care services to non-beneficiary patients. “During the collaborative process SEARHC has said they’re happy to do anything they can do to help,” said SCH Administrator Bill Patten. “This is one of the things they can do – not provide services to non-beneficiaries.”
50 YEARS AGO
June 1973
What began 50 years ago in a Methodist parsonage in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will be celebrated Sunday in Sitka. Les and Caroline Yaw’s four children invite the couple’s many, many friends to attend a golden wedding anniversary reception at the Centennial Building.
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