Florence Elizabeth Bowles Hughes passed away February 23rd at 4:05 a.m.

Mother was the first of ten children and was born 3-20-1931.

Florence was born at home along with most of her siblings in Franklin County, Virginia. She attended a one-room schoolhouse and was the only one in her family to graduate from High School. Florence worked through the school years mostly in the apple packing buildings at Algoma VA. Florence also attended Fairmont Baptist Church in Fairmont VA where she taught Sunday school when she was 16 years old.

Mom had an opportunity to move from the country to the big city of Williamsburg, Virginia, to live with her Aunt and go to work. She told me that her mother Effie Copper Bowles and Father Paul Bowles pushed on her pretty hard to leave the nest. Florence found a job working as a waitress at the Williamsburg Inn, where she talked about meeting and waiting on Clark Gable and Gary Cooper. Mother met Dad in Williamsburg, VA, where he was in the Army stationed at Fort Eustis.

Mom and dad were married on February 13, 1953, and on September 24th, David was born, first of seven children. David Allen Hughes Richland, WA, Suzanne Darden Hughes deceased, Billy Max Hughes Richland, WA, June Catherine Wescot Hughes Alpine, California, James Paul Hughes Porter, Texas, Lisa Robin Edwards Hughes of Richland and Shawn Eric Hughes Searcy, Arkansas.

Florence was a loving mother and housewife until the children grew up; she then desired to work outside the home. One of mom's community achievements was starting the West Richland Library with her good friend Sandy Elovich. Mom worked at FFTF and WPPSS Unit 2 in Richland WA. Florence then moved to Bay City, Texas, and went to work for Ebasco then retired working for HL&P in Bay City, Texas. After retirement, mom decided to move back to what she called home, in West Richland, WA.

She was preceded in death by Husband Max Don Hughes, daughter Suzanne Darden Hughes, Father Paul Bowles, Mother Effie Cooper Bowles, Brother Douglas Bowles, Sister Pauline Cannady, and Brother Larry Bowles.

She is survived by son David Allen Hughes, son Billy Max Hughes, daughter June Catherine Hughes Wescott, son James Paul Hughes, daughter Lisa Robin Hughes Edwards, and son Shawn Eric Hughes.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Ryan Darden, Joshua Paul Hughes, Katy Rose Elizabeth Hughes, Abby Rose Elizabeth Hughes, Nicole Suzanne Honeycutt, Brandon Joseph Honeycutt, Halley Joanna Hughes Mahoney, Samuel Eric Hughes, Cherie Elizabeth Hughes and 11 great-grandchildren. Mom was a very soft and beautiful person inside and out we love and cherish all the time and memories we enjoyed with mom through her years with us. We miss her very much.

Memorial service will be held at Einan's Event Center on Sunday, March 3rd, at 2 p.m. Jim Hughes will be officiating. After the service a short inurnment service for immediate family will be held at the Garden of Remembrance.