Archie Hughes

HUGHES, Archie Michael of Terrell, born October 5, 1961, passed away April 19, 2007. Preceded in death by father, Archie Monroe Hughes. Survived by wife, Debra Hughes; daughter, Brittany Hughes; son, Nicholas Hughes; mother, Linda Hughes; sister, Darlene Stricklind & husband, David; two dogs, Dillon & Angel. Memorial service 6:00PM Saturday April 21, 2007, at New Hope Funeral Home Chapel, 500 E. Hwy. 80, Sunnyvale, TX. 75182. Family will receive friends at the funeral home Saturday afternoon from 4:00PM to 6:00PM. IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE OF MY BELOVED HUSBAND MIKE HUGHES (AKA "ARCHIE") Words will never adequately be able to express the magnitude of our love and friendship over the last 22 years I have spent by Mike's side.When we married he always made it clear to me that I was his "one and only", and he kept that promise. He even got my name tatooed on his arm without my knowledge before we were married.When askedby me, "What if we split up?", his answer was, "We will be together forever!"We bickered back and forth a lot but that was just our relationship.He called it "sparring."He said itkept our relationship fun.He was loyal, honest, funny, caring, knowledgable, and had more common sense than anyone I've ever met.There was nothing he couldn't do or fix.He was like my "McGyver."He spent a lot of time with his family and was in the process of trying to teach his son everything he knew about working on cars and fixing things so he could take care of his mother and daughter when he wasn't around.He was always more worried about his family than himself, even in his final days.We always felt safe because we knew that Mike was there to take care of things.He made sure I got everything I wanted.Even if we couldn't afford something he would say,"Baby, if you want it, you get it.You work hard and you deserve it." I always admired the way he could approach anyone or anything without fear.He acted as though he knew everyone and everyone knew him.He would call me at work and instead of just asking for me, he would take the time to find out as much as he could about whoever answered the phone.He couldn't believe it if they didn't recognize his voice, even if they had never spokento him before.He made everyone feel important and always acknowledged his gratitude to anyone who ever helped him out.He had an amazing ability to remember everyone's name and call them by that name whenever he spoke to them.He went by Mike his whole life until he became sick, then he was "Archie" to all my coworkers who took care of him.They liked to call him "Archie Bunker" when he was in the hospital because he couldn't stand to be there.He felt too confined and was always trying to get the nurses to speed up the chemo so he could go home to be with his family and dogs.His dogs were like his children.He made sure they were taken care of. He always had a strong faith in the Lord, even though he often said he needed to be a better Christian.He became more spiritual when he became ill.He spent a lot of time reading the bible and watching preachers on TV. ( He was told to avoid large crowds so church was not recommended. ) His favorite TV preacher was Jessie Duplantis.He also had great respect for Pastor Rick Lemons of Fellowship Babtist Church in Forney, Texas.Pastor Rick had a very meaningful conversation with him recently when he learned of Mike's illness and that he would be traveling to M.D.Anderson Cancer Center for treatment.He donated $100 to the church that was given to him by a family member he befriended at M.D. Anderson.The family member insisted on giving it to him even though he told him that God had recently blessed him financially. So Mike decided to give it to the church.That's just the way he was..... a truly good man that will be missed for a very long time to come.He also made it very clear that he didn't like to see me crying and upset.He wanted me to be happy and laughing, even after he was gone.He was willing to take the risk of intensive, risky therapy if it would give him even a small chance of cure.He didn't want to just "exist", but wanted to be cured from this debilitating disease.This last year he was unable to do all the things he loved..... hunting , working, big family gatherings, etc. The thing he missed most was our family reunions at "Uncle Dicks".Uncle Dick was his Icon..... they were kindred spirits. But he learned to live with limitations and be grateful for every day he had left to spend with family. To be able to be around his family, sleep in his own bed, lie on his couch and watch TV, and best of all to sit in his lounge chair on the back porch and throw bones to his dogs..... that's what became his greatest joys.But he always said that he was ready to go whenever the Good Lord decided it was his time. I am comforted in knowing that you're in a place where you will suffer no more.I will see you in heaven some day, my love, and I will try to honor your wish of staying happy and healthy. I am so fortunate to have met, married, and spent so many years by your side, and I am such a better person because of you. -Until we see each other in heaven, Your faithful, loving wife, Debra Hughes My dad was the greatest man I know.He is everything to me and will always remain in my heart.I was lucky to have the time I had with him, and I have so many good memories to remember him by.He was always there for me through good times and bad times with his never-ending love.He was everything I could have asked for in a Dad and words cannot describe how much I will miss him.Whenever I didn't know how to do something or needed help, I called him and he always knew the answer...It seemed like he knew everything.He did so much for his family and friends and never asked anything in return.He was such a lovable, personable guy, it was hard not to like him.It seemed like he knew everybody.He left such an impression on so many people throughout his life, and nobody can forget him...He was truely one of a kind.I was so lucky to have such an amazing Dad to raise me.My Dad taught me everything I know and I would not be who I am today without him.He was a wonderful father, husband and friend. It will be hard for my family and I to go on without him, but all of our memories of him will remain.I know he wants us to be happy, live the rest of our lives to the fullest, and remember the good times we had with him.He lived a good life while he was with us and I know he is in a better place now, always watching us.I believe he will live on through the memories in my heart and the hearts of all his family and friends.I LOVE YOU DAD AND I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU! REST IN PEACE -Brittany Hughes Dad, The last thing i wanted to do before you passed was give you the biggest hug, tell you that i loved you, and talk with you about God. I waited an entire day to do that with you and just give you the biggest hug, i waited all day and i was told that you passed and I was unable to give you that hug that i longed for so deeply. Don't you think that you wont get that hug, it may take about 50 years but you're getting that hug. You were my father, my BEST FRIEND, my hero, You were my everthing. You were who i looked up to for everything, when i didnt know how to do something or when i needed something you were the first i turned to and you did the same with me. Me and you were exactly alike, all my life i was told that and i just kinda thought it was a funny joke but i now i realize how so very true that is. I am you, you have passed so many things down to me its like you're here with us still. You were never the type to worry about yourself and you did that until the day you died, you worried about your family and friends before you even thought to consider yourself. The best tribute I can give you is my love and admiration, not all these fancy words, just my love. It's kinda funny how you love people the most when they're not around to receive it. It may seem like we didnt realize how deeply we loved you throughout your life but that couldnt be further from the truth. Your entire family loved you with every ounce of their heart and we all realized how great a man you were. I am going to finish our old truck dad, I am going to finish it with my hands and your guidance from heaven. I say "our truck" because when I finish it, the truck will no longer be mine, its going to be your truck dad, all yours, I am going to finish it as a tribute to you. You passed on so many things to me now its time for me to return the favor, im passing this truck on to you in heaven. Dad, I am so thankful that i got to spend 17 years with you and learn from you for so long. You were and still are an amazing man and you left us with so much. Just the fact that i got to spend so much time with you and become exactly like you is what keeps me at ease. You are in a better place now and I know you our looking down upon us with tears of joy knowing that we will make it through this with your help. We all loved you so deeply and i believe that we had the best relationship a father and son could possibly have. You were a father, a friend, and you were the world to me. You were the best man i knew and I thank you for everything you did for me...... I know what you would say to me right now if i could hear you, you would say "step up to the plate boy, its your time to be a man"..... I am going to do that and I already have. Don't you worry about anything around here, I'll follow exactly in your footsteps and be the man you wanted me to be. I love you with every ounce of my heart and I will see you sometime and I will give you that big hug i wanted to give you, that is what will keep me striving for excellence, the thought that i will someday be able to give you that hug will keep me driving on. I will end this with some of your most loved words, "You were alright for a white boy".. I love you with everything that I am Dad... -Your son and best friend, Nicholas Aaron Hughes IN MEMORY OF MY BELOVED BROTHER MICHAEL HUGHES As a child he was a feisty, witty and clever little boy, the kind of kid you could spank one minute and hold and cherish the next.He was a gifted and creative child, with acute problem solving skills; if it could be fixed, he would use his ingenuity and invent a way. He was all boy, and difficult to harness! As he became a teenager, he was always fearless.He would try almost anything once!His adventurous nature would often result in undesirable consequences, but this never affected his enthusiasm or his optimistic character.He was amusing, he seemed to always think outside the box and color outside the lines! All of these beautiful qualities carried over into Mike's adult life.He was fun loving and a genuine fellow, he always said, "What you see is what you get", no pretense here.He was always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone who would ask.His friends and relatives, including me (his sister) relied on Mike to fix or repair just about anything.I always told him, "you are experienced in everything, but an expert in nothing", we would laugh! We were both very candid with each other, and he had a profound sense of humor!Some times too profound!We all loved his antidotes and his unique descriptions of things and situations.He was truly "One of a Kind". We will deeply miss his humor, and his ability to make us laugh. I admired my brother's optimism and tenacity, especially through difficult times.He was always willing to fight for what was right. He was deliberate in the way he reared his children and taught them God's absolute truth and right from wrong.His children speak volumes by observing their character.He loved and honored his mother and missed his dad, who had died when he was 18 years old.He spoke often of the reunion he would have with his dad in heaven; he said, "It looks like I will probably get to see dad before any of you will."I bet dad was surprised and filled with joy when he saw Mike come through the Pearly Gates of Heaven! I will miss you my dear brother, but be assured that I and your entire family will meet you on the "Streets of Gold"!We are determined to keep our faith in God and finish the race with God's grace.Now, you and dad get busy decorating a place for me, because you know what I like!I love you! You are forever in my heart, Your sister, Darlene Hughes Strickland