Robert "Skeeter" L. Hughes

Robert Louis "Skeeter" Hughes released his grip on the morning of June 23, 2023. He was born Robert on August 20, 1949 at Lee Memorial in Ft. Myers, FL. but given his nickname "Skeeter" by a family friend who remarked that "he looked like a lil skeeter buzzing around the room on the crawl". Being born with Cerebral Palsy and partial paralysis on his left side head to toe, his parents were told that with his complications, he most likely would NOT celebrate his seventh birthday.

Skeeter was just two months shy of celebrating his SEVENTY FOURTH birthday... call it a miracle, call it Divine Intervention YES! But most of all I believe it was the love of family and friends that made him excel and live life to the fullest. He was never treated as handicapped, and though his left arm and leg didn't work in his favor, he could catch and throw a baseball, catch a football single handed and sling it back in a perfect spiral, shoot baskets at the gym and even play golf with his one arm right hand swing!

Skeeter was expected to carry his fair share of the chores and responsibilities like the rest of us and took and passed his driving test the first time. His first job was a paper route in his old 66 Chevy where he could be found rolling and slinging papers out of the window! Later he got a job at Publix, where he worked over 20 years stocking shelves and coolers with product. Skeeter was a fanatical sports fan of all sports, football being his favorite. Though he could resolve math problems, his one talent was being able to tell you a players name and the team he played for just by giving him a jersey number! He and his mom became supporters of the Miami Dolphins football team and during the games, none of us could be in the room if we dare root for the opposing team, and this loyalty lasted with him till his death.

Skeeter stood quietly at the passing of his mother Mavis Sloan Hughes, and at his father William E. Hughes grave side. And together we stood by our older brother William "Butch" Hughes as he was laid to rest, realizing that some things are hard to understand...

So.. we the survivors of Skeeter are charged to carry on his loving memory... His sister in law Ilona (Butch) Hughes, his brother Ricky (Carol) Hughes, Niece Kimberly (Shawn) Sandstrom with children Ashley (Andrew) Ditsworth & Brianna Sandstrom. Niece Kristi (Bryan) Rench with children Makenzi and Devin Rench. Niece Leslie (Chris) Anderson and Niece Stephanie (Micah) Mathews with children Easton and Everlee Mathews, along with all his extended family and friends...

Visitation will be held Friday, July 21, 2023 from 10-11 am at Hodges Funeral Home at Naples Memorial Gardens, 525 111th Ave N, Naples, FL 34108 followed by a funeral service at 11. Burial will follow in Ft. Myers Memorial Gardens.

May the Lord look upon him with favor... and grant him peace.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hodgesfhatnaplesmg.com for the Hughes family.