Helen Hoss Hughes, 90, of Johnson City, Tenn., went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, November 29, 2018, at Johnson City Medical Center. Helen was born to the late James Garfield Hoss and Myrtle Crumley Hoss and grew up in the Shell Creek Community of Carter County. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Hughes; her eldest daughter, Sandra Jean May; two brothers, Carl Hoss and Paul Hoss; and five sisters, Lillian Ellis, Ruth Lewis, Mae Winters, Edith Jones and Margaret Buck.
Helen graduated from Cloudland High School in 1945, where she was a standout on the girls’ basketball team. Her love for basketball led her to become a lifelong fan of Tennessee Vols Basketball. After marrying her late husband, Clyde Hughes, the couple lived several years in the Cove Creek Community before moving to Johnson City in 1960. Helen was employed by Tri State Container Corporation for several years and retired as an inspector for Kennametal. She was a long-standing member of King Springs Church of Christ.
Those left to cherish her memory include two sons, James Hughes and wife Shirley of Elizabethton and Tommy Hughes and wife Holly of Blountville; one daughter, Penny Townsend of Jonesborough; five grandsons; three granddaughters; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; one step-grandchild; three step-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Ellen Hughes of Roan Mountain and Lydia Shipley of Bluff City; a special friend, Angela Moore; a special niece, Pam Sells; and three special nephews, Randy Ellis, Sonny Ellis and Wade Heaton.
A service to honor the life of Helen Hoss Hughes will be conducted at 7 p.m. Sunday, December 2, in the Chapel of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with Pastor Jon Ruetz officiating. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel from 5 until 7 p.m. Sunday, prior to the service, or at the residence of her daughter at other times. The graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, December 3, at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Joe May, Jeremy May, Clinton Hughes, Lucas Hughes, Michael Townsend and Bailey Sheffield. Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Carter, Norman Simerly, Michael Bennett and Mike Hubbard. Those wishing to attend the service are asked to meet at Tetrick Funeral Home of Elizabethton at 10:15 a.m. Monday to go in procession. The family would like to especially thank the staff of the 2300 Wing of Johnson City Medical Center. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to King Springs Church of Christ, 1701 Dave Buck Road, Johnson City, TN 37601. Online condolences may be shared with the family on our website, www.tetrickfuneralhome.com
Mrs. Hughes and her family are in the care of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton. Office: (423) 542-2232. Service Information Line: (423) 543-4917.