Bryant DeWayne Hughes

Bryant De Wayne Hughes was born in Mullan, Idaho on March 8, 1939, to Roy and LaVon Hughes. Bryant passed away on May 29, 2023, at the age of 84, at the home where he and Alice Patterson were married nearly 65 years ago.

Bryant is survived by his loving wife Alice, Sons Mark Hughes of Honolulu, Hawaii & Darin Hughes of Citrus Heights, and daughter Joy (Robert) Fink of Arkansas, Grandchildren Joshua (Debra) Hughes, of Oregon, Michelle (Chris) Lancaster of Washington, Amanda (Max) Norskog of Nevada City, and seven great grandchildren: Torsten, Kasey, Bryan, Aksel, Mackenzie, Sydney and Harlequin Alice; Sister Phyllis Staplin, several nephews and nieces and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents Roy and LaVon Hughes, son David Hughes, Grandson Bryan T Hughes Claussen, and brother Gary Hughes

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Orangevale, 8998 Central Avenue, Orangevale, CA 95662. A reception to follow in the churches’ Fellowship Hall. The graveside service will be held at Sylvan Cemetery, 7401 Auburn Blvd., Citrus Heights, CA 95610 following the service and reception.

Bryant’s father Roy was a miner and mother LaVon a housewife. Phyllis, his sister, and Gary, his brother, were born within three and a half years to complete their family.

The Hughes family moved to Fairfield, California in the early forties and then settled in Citrus Heights on Sycamore Drive in 1945. They lived in a two-room house. Bryant described in later years as a shack with a lean-to where Bryant, Gary & Phyllis slept. Bryant remembered lots of family and friends coming over to eat, visit, play cards, and they often stayed overnight or longer. Roy became a carpenter and built their home when Bryant was in the 5th Grade. Bryant learned his carpentry skills, which served him well throughout life when he remodeled his home several times.

Bryant attended Sylvan Grammar School where he was a marble champ, and San Juan High School. Roy taught Bryant how to box. Because of his boxing skills, he was the main event at San Juan High School when he was a Junior. Unfortunately, he was a very small, skinny kid and was teamed up against a very muscular kid. Tony Mutoza, the Boy’s Club Leader, insisted that Bryant not be a Mohamed Ali (moving around.) He lost badly. This was the first time Alice noticed him. She had already caught his eye. He and his friend Johnny started riding their bikes over to her home to see her. Alice was 13 and in the eighth grade, he was 16 and a Junior in High School, when he gave her his class ring and asked her to go steady.

At San Juan, Bryant took a chemistry class, followed by an agricultural class. One day a stink bomb went off in the ag class and of course, the teacher immediately called out Bryant for the problem. Another time in the ag class took a field trip to the orchard of the Vice Principal of the school to do pruning, Bryant had a brainstorm to take a cutting of a tree and place it into an empty tree space. With clippers in his hands, his classmates started yelling No Bryant No! as Bryant, wacked down the cutting. And of course, the teacher about had a heart attack. Poor Gary, his brother, didn’t have a chance with that same teacher three years later.

Bryant graduated from San Juan High School in 1957. After he graduated, he was hired by the California Department of Forestry as a firefighter for the summer. He was stationed in Groveland, outside Yosemite National Park. In in Fall, Bryant worked as a box boy at Sylvan Supermarket in Citrus Heights and was taking classes at Grant Community College, when he was hired by Aerojet as a delivery boy.

Bryant and Alice were married on August 2, 1958, at her parent’s home in Citrus Heights, while she was still attending high school. They had four children, David (deceased in 2021), Mark, Joy, and Darin. Bryant worked swing shift at Aerojet Alice’s Senior year. He and LaVon took turns babysitting David, their first born, so Alice could graduate with her class.

At Aerojet Bryant worked as a computer operator and then became a computer programmer. He worked for Aerojet for almost 10 years when he was hired by the State of California as a programmer. After one year he was promoted to Computer (IT) Supervisor and a year later became a manager. He retired from the State after 34 years of service, achieving middle management status.

Bryant was a hard worker who stayed focused on the task at hand. He started working when he was in his early teens, weeding and watering for neighbors. During summer breaks when in high school, he worked as a laborer for Yancy Construction Company, of whom his father Roy was employed.

In Bryant’s early years he loved to fish and hunt. He did this year-round. His other interests included swimming, water skiing, camping, softball, golf, gardening, playing cards/games, square dancing, travelling with friends, and taking cruises. He was a Little League coach and manager, including managing Little League tournament teams for several years. He and Alice hosted for many years a 4th of July and Christmas open house which was attended by about 75 family and friends.

Bryant & Alice started square dancing in 1974. They were Presidents of the Whirl-A-Ways square dance club for a number of years. They chaired square dance festivals with National square dance callers for almost 20 years. They were held at the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento, Scottish Rite Temple, and Grass Valley Fairgrounds. Some festivals were attended by about 1000 square dancers. Bryant and Alice squared danced for nearly 30 years meeting many wonderful people who became lifetime friends.

Bryant and Alice were fortunate enough to travel the United States (more than 40 states) in their RV with Tom and Lettie Mac Entire, Mick and Judy Headley, Don & Jan Martin, and Jack and Jeannette Dever. They took cruises and visited many European countries. Bill and Mickie Thompson, lifetime friends, and Bryant and Alice enjoyed campouts with trips throughout the years.

Bryant and Alice joined the Sacramento Ramblers RV Club at Bill and Mickie’s invitation. They met and enjoyed the company of many wonderful people, whom they became friends with. Bryant served as President of the RV Club for four years.

49ers Football and Giants Baseball teams were Bryant’s favorite. When the 49ers held spring training at Sierrra College, he was invited to help them fish at a fishing tournament for the players. These were the years that Joe Montana and Jerry Rice played for the 49ers.

Bryant was easy going and laid back. Rarely getting upset. As a young man, he would stand between much larger guys to break-up fights. Always the negotiator. Outsiders may not have realized it, but Bryant always had the final say in any decision made by the family. And he was a Christian!

When Bryant’s father passed away (his mother had passed 4 years earlier), his sister Phyllis and brother Gary had to clear out the family home and divide/giveaway their parent’s personal possessions. This wonderful, loving, selfless family always considered others before themselves. They set a standard and could have taught classes how to behave when dividing personal possessions after death.

Bryant was well loved by his family and friends. He was respected by all that knew him. There’s comfort in knowing we will see him again.