Constance I. “Connie” Hughes, 70, 134 Hilldale Ave., Gray, died Sunday, June 29, 2008, at her residence surrounded by family and loved ones.

Mrs. Hughes was a native and lifelong resident of Washington County. She was a daughter of the late Albert R. and Roxie Estep.

Mrs. Hughes was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 52 years, Robert J. “Bob” Hughes, March 21, 2008. Bob was her “Soul Mate and Sweetheart”.

Mrs. Hughes was a stay at home wife; mother to her children, grandchildren and her neighbors. She was a graduate of the Science Hill High School Class of 1956.

She was a member of Greenvale Baptist Church.

Connie was a lovely, kind, generous and Christian woman who will be missed by her family and many friends and neighbors.

Survivors include one daughter, Mitzi G. Gillin, Gray; one son, Carmen R. Hughes and his wife, Crystal, Sulphur Springs; three grandsons, Kevin Gillin and his wife Heather, Piney Flats. Brad Gillin, Gray; Robert Hughes and Laura, Sulphur Springs; two great grandsons, Izaiah Slone Hughes and Matthew Joseph Gillin; three sisters, Lena D. Cowan and her husband, Roy D., Charleston, WV; Jewell M. Simmons and her husband, Joe, West Palm Beach, FL; Margaret Ann Klay and her husband, James, Tampa FL; and one brother, Tommy Ray Estep, Charleston, WV and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 8 PM Tuesday, July 1, 2008, from the Morris-Baker Funeral Home South Chapel. Reverend Paul Manis and Mr. Travis Shaffer will officiate.

Graveside services will be held at 2 PM Wednesday at Monte Vista Memorial Park. Family and friends will meet at the funeral home at 1:30 pm and travel in procession to the cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 pm until service time Tuesday at the funeral home.

Active pallbearers will be Kevin Gillin, Brad Gillin, Robert Hughes, Roy D. Cowan, Wayne Simmons and Dean Tucker. The family expresses a special thanks to Doctors, Michael Jewett, Stephen Frye and William Wason, the Smokey Mountain Home Health and Hospice and the staff of the 2500 unit of the Johnson City Medical Center.

Memorial donations in Connie’s name may be made to Greenvale Baptist Church, 1070 Gray Station Road, Gray, TN 37615. Online condolences may be made through www.morrisbaker.com.

Morris-Baker Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2001 Oakland Ave., Johnson City, TN 37601 (423-282-1521) is serving the family.