Gerald Hughes
1926 – 2015

Our Dad, Gerald Jay Hughes, passed away peacefully on November 4, 2015 at the age of 88.  He was born December 26, 1926, in Bakersfield California.  His parents were Robert Morgan and Ethel Smith Hughes.  He was the 4th child in a family of 8 children.  He graduated from East Bakersfield High School in 1945.  During the later part of World War II, he served in the Navy aboard the USS Ajax, a repair ship in the South Pacific.  After his service, he was called on a LDS mission to the Central States.   While laboring in Arkansas, he met our mother, Arva Lucile May, who was also serving a mission there.   They were married in the Idaho Falls Temple on March 30, 1949.  

Dad operated a service station while living in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.  With wife and three children in tow, Dad decided to go to school.   He received his B.S. Degree in Geography, History, and Political Science in 1959 from Brigham Young University.  He also received his Master of Science Degree in Educational Instruction and Administration from BYU.  He taught 15 years, was a high school counselor, and a vice principal at the secondary level.  Dad was co-founder with his brothers of Nature’s Sunshine.  He retired from Natures Sunshine in 1989, as Vice President of Human Resources.  

In 1990, Dad and Mom served their second mission in the West Indies, where Dad served as branch president.  They served a third mission together in Fullerton, California, CES.  Dad was also very active in scouting and earned the Silver Beaver Award.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Arva and daughters, Marlene and Marva.  They have 6 children:  Marlene & (Dave) Palmer,  Eunice & (Kerry) Asay,  Marva & (Gene) Gunn, Jay & (Laura) Hughes, Connie & (Fred) Black, and Shellie & (Brent) Crane;  27 Grandchildren and 48 Great-Grandchildren.

We have fond memories of Dad’s positive attitude toward life, his endless jokes, and his teasing.   Husband, Father, Uncle, Brother, Grandfather, Great-grandfather:  We love you.  We are grateful that our Father and Mother are now united together forever.