Joe Cartwright Hughes

Joe Cartwright Hughes, left us suddenly on March 31, 2015 attending his Aunt’s funeral in Texarkana. He was born on July 25, 1961 at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington, DC to Dr. Robert P. and Mary Jo Hughes.

Joe spent his early years in the locations of his father’s military assignments. After moving to Fort Smith with his family in 1969 he attended Chaffin Junior High, Northside High School and graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX earning a Batchelor of Arts in Film Broadcast. His work took him to Los Angeles where he spent the many years in the entertainment business as an assistant director and member of the Directors Guild of America. He worked on “Friends”, “The Drew Carey Show”, “Veronica’s Closet”, “Suddenly Susan”, “The Arsenio Hall Show”, “The Academy Awards”, “The Academy of Country Music Awards” and many other shows during the next 20 years. He returned to Fort Smith in 2004 to study and retrain as a radiological technician, graduating first in his class at UAFS. He worked at Cooper Clinic and in the ER at Mercy Hospital. He returned to his first love working at UAFS in the Entertainment Department. Joe enjoyed his life long love of photography. He loved to watch a good film. He spent his spare time traveling the world, camping, hiking, and being out in nature. Joe also enjoyed cheering on his favorite team the LA Dodgers.

Joe was preceded in death by his mother Mary Jo Hughes, brother R. Paul Hughes, III and aunt Margee Hughes Hawkins. He is survived by his father Robert (Bob); brothers, John and David (Shana) Hughes of Fort Smith, AR; aunt Priscilla (Larry) McAndrews of Alexandria, VA; uncle Al McEachern of Mobile, AL and nephews Logan Thomas, Dalton Thomas, Austin Hughes.

Memorial service will be held at Edwards Funeral Home, Fort Smith, AR on Wednesday, April 8th, 2015 at 1:00 pm conducted by Dr. Charles Armour. The family will be greeting friends and relatives after the service at Edwards Funeral Home. Private family burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, TN. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the National Film Preservation Foundation or the Paul Hughes Maintenance Fund, Faith United Methodist Church, 2901 Massard Road, Fort Smith, AR 72903. Condolences may be left on Joe Cartwright Hughes online guest book at http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Joe-Hughes&lc=4727&pid=174557446&mid=6390326