Nora Jean Hughes

Nora Jean Hughes, 91 years old and longtime resident of Beaverton, MI, passed away peacefully to complete her life, surrounded by loved ones at 8 p.m. on Monday, October 7, 2024 at Woodland Hospice House in Mt. Pleasant, MI.

She was born Nora Jean Downing on February 10, 1933 to Fred and Julia Downing in Lansing, MI and moved to Beaverton, MI when not quite a teen.  She graduated from Beaverton High School in 1951, where she met the father of her children and formed lifelong friendships that would last to the end of her days.  She raised her children and worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse in Midland, MI, before returning to Beaverton for the remainder of her years, a place she would always think of as her hometown.

Full of love and laughter her entire life, she didn't let herself get worn down by all the adversity one would expect from living over nine decades. Instead, she always found a reason to smile and was forever the first in line to be playful or help someone in need.  She thrived on connecting with others, and though her days of dancing on that table at hunting camp were long gone well before her hips needed to be replaced, she continued to inspire and draw others around her at the tables of her nurturing care, great conversation, and generously shared coffee, food, and pie.

As an avid artist, she treated life itself, as a piece of art, putting every ounce of love she had into her paintings and every beautiful color, pigment, and texture available on her own personal palette, into expressing her love for others.

She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Maynard Hughes; parents Fred and Julia Downing; sister Bonita "Dede" Gedney; sister in law Bonnie Downing; and son Timothy Hughes.  She is survived by her brother Richard Downing of Beaverton and sister Debbie (Brian) Genaw of Beaverton, daughter Julie Hughes of Edenville, son Scott (Deb) Hughes of Algona, IA, and son Dirk (Heiddi) Hughes of Holland, MI; grandchildren Kelly (Clint) Schneider of West Bend, IA, Joshua Hughes of Seattle, WA, Brittany (Mac) Hill of Elmhurst, IL, Morgan Hughes of Medusa, NY, and Parker (Alyssa) Hughes of Burbank, CA; great grandchildren Nathan, Josanna, and Alan Schneider of Iowa and Caleb Hughes of Illinois; and dearest friend Margaret Hughes.  She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, too many to name, who all thought the world of her, visiting her regularly throughout her life and helping care for her in her later years.

Agate hunter, artist, nurse, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend, imp, and "Mama Isis." She will be missed by all those who knew her and even by those who only met her once. She was that cool of a gal.

Family, friends, and fans are invited to attend services for Nora Jean on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at Hall-Kokotovich Funeral Home located at 430 S. Ross St., Beaverton, MI 48612.  Visitation will be at 11 a.m., memorial service at 12 noon, with interment immediately following the service at Dale Cemetery. Arrangements are in the care of Hall-Kokotovich Funeral Home. www.hallkokotovichfuneralhome.com