Judith Anne Hughen

Judith Anne Davis Hughen, age 72, of Buda, passed away after a lengthy illness on December 23, 2017. She was born to Virginia Mae and Robert Matthew Suits on January 6, 1945, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her dad was stationed in Germany so she didn’t get to meet him until she was two years old. Judi grew up an Air Force brat and moved all over the United States and Germany as a child including Indiana, Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, and Michigan. She was active in girl scouts and was a girl scout leader in her adult life. She played the cello and was an avid reader.

Judi had a very caring heart and cultivated friendships everywhere she went. She could talk to anyone and ended up being the best of friends with people in every place she lived in. She had a knack for finding the best pastors in town. She found Gerald Mann when he was still preaching in a cafeteria of a school and John Flowers when he first came to Austin. She was a founding member of Oak Hill United Methodist Church and she and Jim Hughen were married there on February 18, 1988. She loved to go to bible study with Jim and to read her bible. Judi had a lifelong friendship with Pat and Harry Burger, making many memories over the years. Judi was an excellent cook, loved to sew, read mysteries and medical dramas, and to do arts and crafts. Judi and her great friend Kathy Williams spent many hours shopping, going out to eat and taking care of each other over the past five years. Jim and Judi opened the doors of their home to several people to live while they were going to college- Pedro Gonzales, April Becker Rodgers and Vivian’s daughter, Whitney.

She had a long career as a nurse. She worked in the neonatal unit at Brackenridge hospital for many years. She also worked as a home health care nurse for AIDS patients for Girling Home Health when this was considered a dangerous and controversial job to have. She was a substitute nurse for Dr’s Alsup, Ream and Robinson. Judi went on several mission trios to Mexico to share her nursing skills with others and learned to speak Spanish along the way.

Judi is preceded in death by her parents and her beloved husband of 25 years, James Frank (Jim) Hughen. She is survived by her children, Wendy Maass (Steven), Lisa Wilson (Paul), Scott Davis (Becky), Ginger Jarosek (Joe), sister Robbie Holder; 8 grandchildren, April (Ben), Amber, Will, Mary (Nelson), Spencer, Molly, Jake and Camille; and 4 great-grandchildren- Aidan, Emma, Jacob and Wade.

A special thank you to Dr. Flora Edison and the nurses from Well Med, especially Deana, for their care over the past few years. Thank you also to Hospice Austin for all of your help.

The memorial service will be held at noon on Saturday, December 30, 2017 at Oak Hill United Methodist Church with a reception following.