Mom was a creative individual, whether she was sewing, quilting, cooking, or just getting things done. Her heart was golden. She was ready to teach at any time with her signature statement, "If it was me, I would ..." As with most of the people of her generation, there wasn't much she wouldn't try -- from processing a deer that Dad brought home or putting together a family fish fry or barbecue. She was a very accomplished seamstress, helping each of her daughters to become skilled enough to make their own wedding gowns. She even made some of Dad's khaki work clothes. She shared her expertise with her granddaughters and great granddaughters by making baby doll clothes and blankets. Who can forget Charlotte's skirt with all of her classmates' names on it? Or the many, many layered petticoats to make our dresses stand out?
Along with the sewing she did to provide us with unique one-of-a-kind clothes, she was an accomplished quilter. Throughout her life she made more than 100 quilts. The most special of those were the all-white king-sized ones with matching pillow shams and hand crocheted lace edging that she lovingly produced for the grandchildren.
She also produced MANY crocheted tablecloths, doilies and afghans throughout the years. In her later years, she took up cross-stitching giving us more heirlooms to treasure. In short, besides knitting (which was boring to her), there weren't many crafts she wouldn't try.
Food at Mom's/MeMe's was never lacking--the best dinner rolls and cinnamon rolls at Thanksgiving and Christmas or her special fruit salad recipe. At one time or another, she canned every vegetable she could grow. Sundays you could count on roast beef with carrots, potatoes and onions covered in gravy. Who knows how many pounds of sausage or dozens of tamales she made? Never mind how many pounds of catfish, French Fries and hush puppies.
While Mother loved her family, you better not show up during her Spurs or Longhorn games. She also loved hummingbirds, flowers, new gadgets and sharing her knowledge.
Mother and Dad were world class mentors. They were "substitute parents" with Dad teaching auto mechanics while Mom fed them. Mom was also a 4-H leader for several years.
MeMe was especially proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They were the lights of her life. Each of them held a unique niche in her heart.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Hughes, granddaughters Baby Girl DeGroat, Beckie Lyn Bunch and Janet Lea Bunch and son-in-law Jerry Carpenter, Sr.
She is survived by her daughters, Charlotte DeGroat, Amelia Bunch and Judy Carpenter as well as her son-in-law, Edward Bunch. Surviving grandchildren: Kimberley Bentley and husband Chris; Jerry Carpenter, Jr. and wife Pam, Jimmy DeGroat and wife, Amy; Jennifer Carpenter, Janna Oxford, Meredith Bunch and husband Jeffrey Bradfield. Great grand-children: Maegan Carpenter; Molly Dart; Nash DeGroat, Emily Dart, Haeley Carpenter, Seth Dart, McKenna and Aiden Oxford. Last but not least, her special baby: JoDee.
