September 18, 1923 – December 24, 2019
Dorothy Geyer Hughes, a one-of-a-kind force of nature who lived and loved fully and fiercely, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2019, after a brief illness. She was a young-at-heart 96, reminding anyone who would listen that “90 is the new 70” and that “life is good!”
While it was devastating for the Hughes family to lose our beloved Mom and Nonnie during the holidays, we are comforted that she rejoined Dad on Christmas Eve, their favorite day of the year. We can’t help but smile thinking of Dad greeting her in his red Christmas sweater, mimosa in hand.
Unquestionably, Dorothy was the CEO of the Hughes family, a world-class wife, mother, mother-in-law and grandmother, who relished every phase and detail of her loved ones’ lives. She was the mother who drove carpool, volunteered to serve on every school committee (often to her kids’ mortification), attended every extracurricular activity and still managed to put a beautiful candlelit meal on the table every night. As her children began their careers, she delighted in learning about the financial markets, legislative issues in Austin and the world of public education. She was a genuinely interested and supportive cheerleader for all of us and was blessed with a legendary, steel-trap memory and intellect until the day she left us.
Dorothy was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on September 18, 1923, and moved to Houston, Texas, as a young girl. She attended Reagan High School in the Houston Heights, where she led the highly-regarded Reagan Redcoats drill team as Drill Master. After attending Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, and studying at the Houston Museum of Art, Dorothy met the smart and handsome Vincent Bell Hughes, Jr., with whom she shared a love of dancing to Big Band music. Dorothy and Vincent married on January 29, 1945, in Columbia, South Carolina, while Vincent was serving his country during World War II. Their nearly 75-year love story produced three children–Karen, Lisa and Vincent Bell Hughes III (or ‘Budgie.”)
Having successfully raised her children, Dorothy surprised all of us by starting a career…well into her 50s. What began as a job helping her oldest daughter with product demonstrations in retail stores was parlayed into a full-time sales representative position, which ultimately led to her being hired as a gourmet housewares buyer at Bering’s Hardware and Breed & Company, two specialty stores in Houston and Austin, respectively.
The family marveled at our little gray-haired mom dashing off to market in New York City, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Chicago. But we should not have been surprised by her success. She was smart, savvy and fearless and knew a thing or two about making a beautiful home. In a different era, she would have been running the place.
Dorothy and Vincent’s move to College Station upon retirement began one of the happiest chapters of her life. The two worked side by side to turn a simple home on 10 acres into a beautiful space for their family and friends to enjoy. Dorothy’s golden years were full and fun, spent hosting countless family gatherings and parties; enthusiastically supporting Aggie football and women’s basketball; traveling the country; and having the chance to live only 500 yards from her treasured grandsons, Ben and Will, who delighted her every single day.
Dorothy is survived by her daughter Karen Hughes and her partner Lynne Werner; daughter Lisa Hughes and her significant other Patrick Haggerty; son Vincent B. Hughes III and his wife Sally; grandson Benjamin and his wife Emily Joiner Hughes; grandson William; and brother Adolph Geyer, Jr., and his significant other Glenda Reynolds. She is preceded in death by her husband, Vincent B. Hughes, Jr., and her parents Adolph Geyer and Ethelyn Robison Geyer.
The family would like to thank the many fine doctors and nurses at Baylor Scott & White, especially Dr. Juddi Yeh and her oncology team, as well as the outstanding caregivers from Comfort Keepers, all of whom took patient and loving care of our mother over the years. She considered you all her very special friends.
The family will receive visitors from 3:00-3:30 p.m. on Sunday, February 16, at Callaway-Jones Funeral Center, 3001 S. College in Bryan, Texas. A Celebration of Dorothy’s Life will be held on Sunday, February 16, beginning at 3:30 p.m., in the Bluebonnet Room at Callaway-Jones with Dawn Lee Wakefield, Certified Life Celebrant, officiating.
Express condolences at CallawayJones.com
Dorothy was a one of a kind mother and grandmother and friend. We miss her like heck. Condolences to all of the great Hughes family.
I met Dorothy at Baylor Scott & White as a fellow oncology patient. She was being treated for the same cancer as I, and for an even longer time, as I understand. Because I had seen her from time to time in the waiting room over such a long time, I approached her one day in June 2018 and struck up a conversation. I agree with what is written in her obit! From the small number of encounters I had with her, I am not the least surprised at her amazing accomplishments in her life, and her remarkable strength. The reason I searched for and found her obit is that on Feb 12, I tried to transmit a gold-foil wrapped chocolate Kennedy half-dollar, as part of celebrating my own 500th chemo treatment. I wrote her a note and gave an envelope with it and the chocolate to one of the nurses to pass on. The medical staff of course is not allowed to give any info about other patients, and they don’t, but I saw a quick look of sadness pass across the nurse’s face. That made me worry about Dorothy, but I didn’t look right away for an obit – only just now. Now I so much wish I had looked right away, because then I would have attended her Celebration of Life service on Feb 16. By the way, I totally confirm the obit’s comments about Dr. Juddi Yeh and the wonderful oncology staff at BSW! My condolences to you all.