Friday, March 4, 2016
The Colebrook Chronicle
Page 15
Obituaries
Ronald J. Hughes
RONALD J. HUGHES
COLEBROOK–Ronald
J.
Hughes, 78, of Colebrook, passed
away at the Upper Connecticut
Valley Hospital early on Thursday morning, Feb. 25, 2016, surrounded by his loving family and
after a long battle with failing
health.
He was born Dec. 28, 1937 in
West Stewartstown, the son of
the late Homer J and Florence
(Blais) Hughes. He attended
local schools and was a 1955
graduate of Colebrook Academy.
Ron was drafted into the Army
and served with honor from
1961-63.
Upon returning to the North
Country, Ron held various jobs.
He worked as a heavy equipment
operator for Audley Construction
until going to work for the Prudential Insurance Company,
where he was awarded for being
a top agent multiple times, but
was forced to retire due to his
failing health. He later refused
to retire and worked various jobs
to include driving truck for the
Lewis Oil Company.
Ron was a well-known figure
in the local community as well as
in the state. He served 38 years
on the Colebrook Fire Dept. in
every position to include 11 years
as chief. He also served for 24
years as a N.H. Forest Fire Warden and 23 years as a director for
the N.H. Fireman's Association.
Ron was also recognized for the
major role he played in establishing the current New Hampshire
Fire Academy in Concord. Ron
also served on the Connecticut
Lakes Headwaters Citizens Committee, making sure the land
stayed open for future generations.
Ron was a lover of music and
was an accomplished drummer.
He loved to march in parades, to
dance, and to play in local bands.
In addition to his love of music,
he enjoyed his camp on Whipple
Ridge and was considered by
most to be obsessed with his blue
1978 International Scout II.
He is survived by his wife, the
love of his life, Helen (Fraser)
Hughes, of Colebrook; his three
children, Stephanie (Hughes)
Cross and husband Bradley
Cross of Fort Hood Tex., E.J.
Hughes of Singapore, and Christopher Hughes and wife Melissa
of Deland, Fla.; five step-children, Kimberly Martin and husband Sean, Jason Fayta and wife
Leiah, Lori Merrill and husband
Michael, Suzanne Merrill ,and
Robbie Merrill;. three brothers,
Dean Hughes of Colebrook, Alan
Hughes and wife Cathie of Charlotte Vt., Robert Hughes and wife
Lucille of Harvard, Mass.. Ron
was a proud grandfather of Ashlie Cross and fiancée Travis
Lynch, Nathan Cross, Michael,
Audrey, Elizabeth, Colin, and
Isabella Hughes, as well as eight
step-grandchildren and a young
lady who held a special place in
his heart, Chelsea Tillinghast.
Calling hours were on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, from 2-4 and
5-8 p.m. at the Jenkins and Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook.
A graveside committal service
with military honors will be held
later in the spring in the Colebrook Village Cemetery of which
notice will be given.
Expressions of sympathy may
be made to the Colebrook Fire
Dept., P.O. Box 273, Colebrook,
NH 03576; or the Colebrook
School District Music Dept., 21
Academy St., Colebrook, NH
03576; or to the North Country
Band, Cecil Hikel, P.O. Box 16,
Canaan, Vt. 05903.
Condolences may be offered to
the family online by going to
www.jenkinsnewman.com.
Funeral arrangements in
N.H. are under the direction of
Jenkins and Newman Funeral
Home in Colebrook.
“Car 1, … all clear.”
Essex, and Barbara Hartshorn
and her husband Bruce of Jericho. She will also be greatly
missed by her grandchildren and
great-grandchildren: Benjamin
Nye and his wife Mindy, Nicholas Hartshorn, Abigail Hoppe
and her husband David, Elizabeth Nye, Anna Hoppe, Owen
Nye, and Oliver Hoppe. Other
surviving family include her
brother, Marvin Tuttle, and
many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be
held at the Essex United Methodist Church on Center Road at
10 a.m. on March 5.
In lieu of flowers, memorial
gifts may be made to the Essex
United Methodist Church, Box
8074, Essex, Vt. 05401
Arrangements are under the
direction of Bailey Funeral Home
in Lancaster. Please go to
www.baileyfh.net for more information or to send an online condolence.
He is survived by his wife of
55 years, Evelyn (Riendeau)
Bohan; his three children,
Thomas Bohan and wife Sandy
of San Diego, Cali., Gail (Bohan)
Martineau and husband Edward
of Atkinson, and Richard Bohan
and wife Katherine of Madbury;
four grandchildren, Hunter
Bohan, Jake Martineau, Connelly and Connor Bohan; and two
step- grandchildren, Steven and
Nathan Corliss.
He is predeceased by his parents and seven siblings, Anne
(Bohan) Ramsay, Charles Bohan,
Clara (Bohan) Russell, Eliza &WF