Mary Kay Hughes

Mary Kay Hughes was called home by the Lord at 99 years young on September 26, 2025. Born in Whitesboro, Texas, she was the beloved daughter of Elwyn and Maisie Seely. Services will be held Friday, October 10, 2025 from 2 pm to 3 pm at Lakeway Church of Christ.

Mary Kay Seely was born on April 1, 1926. Her birthday was on April Fools, which the family enjoyed having fun with jokes over the years. Back in the 1920’s, ultrasound technology wasn’t developed yet and Mary Kay’s gender was a joyous surprise at delivery to her parents, who were expecting a boy. The family always believed she played the first prank! She was the eldest of three children, sister, Virginia Ruth Seely, and younger brother, Watson Seely. She grew up in the Baptist church and was close with her uncle Reverend Joe Watson.

Mary Kay passed away peacefully at her home on Lake Travis with her loving grandchildren Monika Little and husband Chris Little, and Eric Castaneda. The family showered her with love and care every day until the very end. She enjoyed watching birds out her window, sitting on the back patio, and daily visits from hummingbirds and a friendly fox. She was always smiling and happy and in wonderful spirits. The family has solace knowing she lived a long, beautiful life to the fullest with a fairytale ending.

After graduating Whitesboro high school in 1944, she waited a year to attend college in Denton (all girls college at that time) with her sister, Virginia Ruth. She took the train out to California as a graduation gift with her Aunt during the break. Mary Kay was an Art Major. After college she decided she wanted to start her life in Los Angeles, California. She married her first husband Cord Ell Riley (aka Bud) on June 22, 1946. They had 2 sons together, Dan and Richard. She remarried in 1956 to Tony Engelhardt, a chef in Las Vegas, and they had a daughter together, Teresa. She lived in Las Vegas and enjoyed all the fancy things.

Mary Kay later married Ronald Carter Hughes in 1972, and they built a beautiful life filled with love, laughter and happiness while raising Teresa. They also raised their grandchildren Eric Castaneda (since the age of 9) and Monika Little (since the age of 2). She was married to Ron for 46 years, until he passed away in 2018 from cancer. Mary Kay and Ron were best friends and traveled the world together. They went to Europe to visit Ron’s parents in the 1970s who were living there at the time. They shared amazing adventures together in Spain, Scotland, Italy, and Germany. Their favorite place to vacation was Baja, Mexico and RV camp in Bahia de Los Angeles, and jet skiing on the Colorado River. They loved to snorkel in the Sea of Cortez. She collected lots of seashells over the years. She always enjoyed motorcycle rides and being on the back of Ron’s bike.

Mary Kay was the heart and soul of her family- their cherished matriarch. A loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt; family always came first above all else.

She had fond memories of living in Santa Monica and the Venice Canal. She practiced real estate for close to 40 years in the Los Angeles area. She loved fashion, and would spend her spare time in fabric shops, designing and sewing beautiful dresses.

Mary Kay was an avid reader and enjoyed learning about health, longevity and natural remedies. The family joked she was like the energizer bunny, she had so much energy and was in good health her entire life.

She had an affection for gardening and specifically for growing orchids. In her later years, she was the President of the garden club and gave her time volunteering and mentoring at various clubs and organizations which gave her immense joy.

She is survived by her daughter, Teresa Castaneda; cherished grandchildren Monika Little and husband Chris Little, Eric Castaneda; other grandchildren Katherine Riley, Kevin Riley, Matthew Riley, Christine Stamegna, Travis Riley, and Danielle Reynolds, and 5 great grandchildren, and Jasmine Castaneda de Morales, a beloved great grandchild, nephews Dr. Michael Carroll, Dr. Greg Carroll, and Dr. Randy Seely.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Maisie Ruth and Elwyn Warren Seely, her maternal grandparents Maudie Catherine McDonnell, and Samuel Newton Watson (married in 1902); paternal grandparents, Ada Burtham and Henry Seely; Husbands, Cord Ell Riley, Tony Engelhardt, and Ronald C. Hughes, brother, Watson Seely, and Sister-in law Patsy Seely; Sister, Virginia Ruth; Brother-in-law Charles Carroll, son Richard Riley, son Dan Riley; Uncles Rev. Joe Watson and Robert Samuel, Aunts Glennis Watson Lynch and Juanita Watson Hilliard.