Jeff Hughes

Our gentle giant, Jeff-e-Pooh, Poohman, Jeffn, Pauj, Papa Jeff, husband extraordinaire, Nancy’s best friend, and his favorite titles of all – Dad and Grandpa – passed away Saturday, April 22, 2023. He was 63 years young and is gone much too soon! Jeff will be missed by everyone who had the good fortune to know him and experience his kind and gentle demeanor. 

Jeffrey Dennis Hughes was born on March 4, 1960, in St. Petersburg, Florida, to James Edward and Betty Lois (Dickerson) Hughes. Jeff enjoyed a fun and loving childhood, including memorable family vacations to Myrtle Beach. He played Little League baseball, continuing on to play high school baseball and football for Gibbs High School. During high school he took note of the weatherman’s frequent reportings of cool temperatures recorded in Big Piney, Wyoming, and when he was recruited to play both baseball and football for Yankton College in Yankton, South Dakota, he figured it might be the closest he’d get to Wyoming. He was seeking “four seasons” and never missed the Florida humidity.

Jeff began his academic and sports endeavors in Yankton in the late summer of ’78 and had met and seemingly fallen in love with his future life-long partner, Nancy (McEwen) Hughes, before Christmas that same year. Jeff and Nancy married in 1981 and later gravitated to Utah, seeking employment and a place to call home and begin a family. 

In his early years in Utah, Jeff loved to golf, ski, bike ride, camp, hike, sightsee, all things Utah! After his sons, Austin and Adam, were born, he adapted his hobbies to conform and to also include the boys’ sporting and recreational interests, adding “super coach” to his list of passions. Jeff’s coaching career began by chance. He signed 5-year-old Austin up to play recreational soccer and soon got the plea that if no one volunteered to coach, there would be no team. That launched the next 12 years of coaching both his sons in soccer and Little League baseball, sometimes with crazy overlapping schedules. Jeff and Nancy succumbed to buying their first brick cell phones in order to coordinate schedules around a dozen or more practices and games each week, and the family forged amazing friendships with the players and their parents, traveling the valley and the country. Meanwhile, Jeff and family also continued to hike and camp and enjoy the outdoors together and savored many family beach trips to the Outer Banks. 

While still in high school, Jeff became interested in photography (again, one of those “who wants to take pictures for the high school yearbook” opportunities). Once his coaching days were over, he could be spotted on the sidelines of every one of his boys’ soccer games snapping photos, and he was still carrying a camera and snapping pictures everywhere he went until nearly his final day. This hobby resulted in thousands of paper and digital prints to be forever enjoyed by his family.

Jeff began his 38-year career with Sperry, which through multiple mergers and buyouts eventually became L-3 Harris, and happily celebrated his retirement in 2021. He established many invaluable and lifelong friendships through the workplace, but prioritizing family time was always his most important goal. 

Despite medical hurdles, many a result of his diabetes, Jeff continued to rally through life like a champion. In June 2013, he received the true gift of life and was blessed with a kidney transplant. This gift enabled him to enjoy so many more adventures with his family and friends. One of his last prized achievements was completing the 42-mile MS Best Dam Bike Ride in June 2022 in support of a dear friend.

After their sons graduated from high school, Jeff and Nancy found more time to play, travel, and spend time with each other, their sons and granddaughters, their siblings, and so many dear friends, often finding themselves camping and enjoying a glass of wine or a new cocktail. His most recent trips to Italy, Florida, and Playa del Carmen were special favorites.

Jeff is survived by his adoring wife, Nancy, of Sandy, Utah, two sons, Austin  of Millcreek, Utah and Adam of Ann Arbor, Michigan; and two adoring and adorable granddaughters, Olivia and Zella; his brother Garry (Lisa) Hughes of Plant City, Florida, and their daughter, Kaitlin; his sister Vicki (Jon) Jurgens of Largo, Florida, and their children, Caleb and Hannah; his brother-in-law Gary (Jaclyn) McEwen of Hume, Virginia, and their three sons, Scott (Catherine and two beautiful children), Brian, and Colin; and his sister-in-law Peggy Schroeder of Hagerstown, Maryland.

Jeff was preceded in death by his parents and his wonderful nephew, Kyle, his parents-in-law, Jim and Elaine McEwen, and his brother-in-law, Myron. 

A Celebration of Jeff’s Fantastic Life will be held on Friday, May 5, from 6 – 9 PM at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City, Utah. Guests are encouraged to use parking and entrance at the north side of the building. We suggest following Jeff’s dress code example in the accompanying photo. 

In lieu of flowers or food, Jeff’s family wishes to convey they have established a way to directly donate to the American Diabetes Association in Jeff’s memory in its ongoing battle against this nasty disease, https://gofund.me/a72ba94e , or feel free to donate to your personal favorite charity. Please feel NO obligation to do either; the family is simply attempting to provide a channel for all the love and support they are feeling.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks Funeral Parlor. Please visit www.starksfuneral.com to share photos and memories with Jeff’s family.