1923 ~ 2018
Laurel Fox Hughes, passed away on Monday, June 11, 2018, at the age of 94, surrounded by family.
Born in Shelly, Idaho on July 27, 1923 to Ora Lott and Charles Irvin Fox. She lived her entire life within just a few miles of where she grew up on the east bench of Salt Lake City. She graduated from East High School and the University of Utah (B.A., M.S.W.), where she affiliated with Alpha Chi Omega.
Laurel married Norman J. Hughes on August 17, 1949, and they were happily married for 45 years until his death in 1994. They raised five children and she was a loving and much beloved mother and grandmother.
Laurel's life's work was people. She made a diverse range of friends throughout her life and loved nothing more than to stay in touch with them. She was a central hub of numerous lunch groups, dinner groups, bridge clubs, and literary groups some of which lasted 70 years or more.
Her love of people was reflected in her professional life. Laurel was a school teacher and social worker. She worked at the University of Utah Medical Center for many years, where she counseled terminally ill children and their families, expectant and new mothers, and many others. She was a gifted marriage and relationship counselor. She was known for her strength of character, her “spunk”, her willingness to tell it like she saw it, and her determination to stand up for what she felt was right. A steady stream of people that she helped and befriended in these and other capacities beat a continual path to her door to visit with Laurel until the last day of her life.
Laurel was preceded in death by her husband, Norman, her brother Donald Lott Fox, sister Patricia Fox Dubois and her daughters Heidi Hughes Meadows and Jill Hughes White. She is survived by her sons Christopher Lane Hughes (Linda), Michael Scott Hughes (Christy) and daughter Katherine Hughes Curtis (Chris), as well as 13 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
There will be a short graveside service for friends and family at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S Highland Dr, Salt Lake City, UT on Saturday, June 16, at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in Laurel's memory to your favorite charity that focuses on lifting people.
