John Hughes

John Austin Hughes passed on March 31, 2017, while visiting a close friend in Tokyo, Japan. He was born on July 16, 1964, at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington, D.C., to Dr. Robert P. and Mary Jo Hughes.

John spent his early years in the locations of his father’s military assignments. After moving with his family to Fort Smith in 1969, he attended Chaffin Junior High School, and graduated from Northside High School in 1982. He attended and received his bachelor of fine arts degree from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1986. John then moved to Southern California and attended the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood. After graduation from GIT, John lived in Los Angeles. Although he trained in sculpting, his true passion was writing and recording music with friends. He formed and played in a number of area bands and recorded many songs in his time off work.

John’s fine arts major, sculpting, and knowledge of metallurgy led him to a job with the jewelry company 1928 where he managed the model department. He also worked on designs for Disney, and The Joan River’s Collection as an independent contractor.

John played the ukulele on the song "Sweet Pea" by Amos Lee. It was Amos Lee’s most successful recording and revived interest in the ukulele for a new generation of musicians. As a member of the Screen Actors Guild, he worked as an extra on a number of feature films such as: Anchorman, Bed Time Stories, and Semi-Pro. John’s knowledge of string instruments lead him to Colorado Springs to help a friend open a guitar shop.

He returned to Fort Smith in 2012 to spend time with family.

As an artist and musician, John drew, painted, sculpted and worked in any medium to create art. His first love was writing, playing, listening and collecting music. He was active in the local music scene. In his spare time, John also enjoyed camping, hiking and shooting, as well as playing gigs with friends.

John was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Jo Hughes; brothers, R. Paul Hughes III and Joe C. Hughes; and his aunt, Margee Hughes Hawkins.

He is survived by his father, Robert P. Hughes Jr., MD; brother, David (Shana) Hughes of Fort Smith; an aunt, Priscilla (Larry) McAndrews of Alexandria, VA; an uncle, Al McEachern of Mobile, AL; an aunt, Bette Shoptaw of Texarkana, AR; and nephews, Logan Thomas, Dalton Thomas and Austin Hughes.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 PM Thursday, April 6, at Edwards Funeral Home. Memorial Service will be held at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel, 10:00 AM Friday, April 7, 2017 conducted by John’s friend, Father Chris Downey of Austin, Texas.

Private family Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis, TN. Services are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.