Collie Ray “Bo” Hughes, 98, of Cantonment, died Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020.
Mr. Hughes was born Jan. 4, 1922, to George Cobb and Lula Bell Powell Hughes in Excel, Ala. With only a sixth grade education, he became a crane operator at the Mobile Steel Company from Feb. 1942 until he enlisted in U.S. Navy in 1943. He served on the NTS Bainbridge in Maryland, the USS Griener (DE-37) and USS Natoma Bay (CVE 62). When World War II officially ended, he was on a ship 300 miles from the Tokyo harbor and was later honorably dis- charged Feb. 10, 1946. He worked for 30 years at the St. Regis Paper Company in Cantonment.
The funeral was held at 12 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 7, at Johnson Quimby Funeral Chapel with Bro. C.L. Langford and Bro. Chris Pruitt officiating. Burial fol- lowed at Enon Baptist Church Cemetery in Goodway, Ala. With military honors and Johnson Quimby Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Hughes is survived by two sons, Robert (Anne) Hughes of Lottie, Ala. and Marcus (Patty) Hughes of Cantonment; six grandchil- dren; 11 great-grandchildren; and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, other rela- tives and friends.
Mr. Hughes was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Mary Jean Murphy Hughes; one son, Derick Allen Hughes; his parents; and two sisters, Nettie Lou Lilley and Marguree Womack.