Esther Nana Leah Hughes

Esther was born in Merced, California in 1939 to Nellie Colgan and Herbert Morris who immigrated from Oklahoma. Esther was raised in Merced where she met and married the love of her life and best friend, Don Hughes in 1954. Together they settled in Bakersfield, California where Don found work as a truck driver with his dad, Elvin. Esther worked at Hillcrest Mortuary as a receptionist and later at the Kern County High School District office.

Don learned the culinary skills as a cook in the U.S. Army during the early years and together they created Coffee Cart Catering in Oildale, where they pioneered the use of computers in inventory control. Esther and her daughter, Julie, managed the office and bookkeeping with son-in-law, Doug, who managed the catering truck maintenance.

Don and Esther raised three girls, Janice (Mark) Rhoades, Julie (Doug) Baker, and Karen Manning. Esther also considered her niece, Dawn (Cle), as her fourth daughter and a member of her family along with their children, Anson, Joshua (Jessica), and Elizabeth (Devin).

Esther was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Don Hughes, her mother Nellie Tiewater Colgan, father and mother-in-law Elvin and Vernice Hughes, oldest sister Georgia A. Hughes, younger sister Carolyn Thome, brother-in-law Duane Hughes, son-in-law Gary D. Manning, and great-grandson Logan Manning.

Esther was also known as "Nana" to her ten grandsons, Mark (Yvonne) Rhoades, Curtis (Noel) Rhoades, Bobby Rhoades, Jason Baker, David (Marie) Baker, Michael (Viviana) Baker, Jeff (Kelly) Baker, Gary D. Manning Jr,. Eric (Ashley) Manning, and Casey (Brittany) Phillips.

Nana also had eighteen great-grandchildren, Curtis, Heather, Lauren, Nick, Jacob, Christopher, Andrew, Isabella, Ethan, Dawson, Preston, Destiny, Gavin, Eris, London, Ian, Kade and Cole.

Family was everything to Esther and she was extremely proud of all of her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Esther enjoyed going to wrestling, football and baseball games to watch her grandsons play as well as other family outings. Esther had many, many lifelong friends from the earliest days of motorcycling, birthday outings, church services, and quilting get togethers with her sewing sisters. Esther was a devout Catholic and spent many hours of service to the church as a Carmelite. Esther inspired many with her faith and brought many members into the church. She appreciated the beauty of life and always noticed the little things. Esther and her girls found humor in everyday life and had the most fun when laughing at themselves. She was greatly loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Esther married very young into a large family of seven children, June Hess, Donald Hughes, Tommy (Mary) Hughes, Duane Hughes, Dickey (Carol) Hughes, Steven Hughes, Delbert Hughes and David (Mary) Hughes. Esther loved being a Hughes from the moment she met and married Don. She loved and appreciated the fact that the Hughes' were very close and always supported each other. Whenever she needed anything they were always there for her, Don, and the three girls. Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas were the most important days of the year when the whole family got together to make memories. These were the best memories and will always be remembered. She always said the Hughes family was her real family.

Visitation will be at Hillcrest Mortuary on Friday, March 31, 2017, between 5:00pm and 9:00pm. Services are scheduled for Saturday, April 1, 2017, at 12:00pm at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1800 Bedford Way, Oildale, followed by a graveside service at Hillcrest Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Esther's name may be made to Right to Life Kern County, at rtlkc.org.