James F Hughes

James Ford Hughes, of Meredith, NH., passed away on Wed. Jan. 16, 2019 after a few years of declining health and dementia.

His parents, Hugh Evans Hughes from Anglesey Wales, and Ethel Ford Hughes was from Manchester, England becoming American citizens in 1912.

He is survived by Norma Moulton Hughes, his wife, and his brother Richard Hughes of Saugus, Mass. He was predeceased by Hugh Hughes of Worcester Mass, Robert Hughes of Newark, Delaware, & Ethel Rose Hughes of Worcester, Mass

Completed school at North High Vocational/Agricultural School in Worcester, Mass

Treasurer of Future Farmers Assoc @ North High. Mayor of Ionic Ave. Boys club and headed up a drive for used tires & newspapers for the war effort.

Entered the US Maritime Jan. 28, 1944 and sailed Liberty ships and Victory ships in the Atlantic & Pacific during World War II. Came to Center Harbor in 1946 but returned to the Pacific for three trips.
Lived in Laconia from 1950 - 1957 were he was a member of the Vestry & Chairman of Sunday school @ St. James Church, Laconia, NH. Became a DHIA tester for Belknap County. He was the President of Belknap City Young Farmer, Belknap County Farm Bureau and winner of the Talk Meet contest at state level and went to the American Farm Bureau contest in Chicago.

Became a Mason earning his first step as "Entered Apprentice" on 5/31/1950, his "Fellow Craft" on 7/26/1950 and his "Master Mason" on 9/2/1950. Was the Master of the Lodge, Chocorua Lodge, Meredith. Received the Mason's John Sullivan Award twice, the Bronze in 1980 and the Silver in 1994.
Moved to Center Harbor in 1957, served on the Planning Board, a volunteer firefighter on the Ctr. Harbor Dept. from 1962-1964, Elected to the Inter-Lakes School Board and served as Chairman in 1968.
He moved to Meredith in 1966. Served on the Planning Board from 1982-1995 and as a Selectman for 25 years from March 1987-1993 and again from March 1994-2012. He was awarded the Citizenship award for the town of Meredith. He also started helping with the planning of the 250-year celebration for Meredith.
Worked for Metropolitan Life Insurance based in Laconia for 17 years and then C.B. Foss Agency of Moultonboro for 20 years. was President of the Lakes Region Life Underwriters, President of New Hampshire Life Underwriters, President of New Hampshire Chapter CLU & CHFC. Moderator for many Life Underwriter Training classes. Served as Lay Reader, Senior Warden, supper coordinator, door greeter, and many other varied tasks at Trinity Episcopal Church.

He is survived by his 5 children: David and Thomas Hughes, Frances Mudgett, Carol Brace and Lorraine Miller, his 8 grandchildren; Melissa Sullivan, Raymond Mudgett, Jennifer Newton, Kimberly Ramsey,
Benjamin Selleck, Christopher Cakars, Abraham Hughes and Elizabeth Fullerton and 13 great grand children along with many other nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held in the Mayhew Funeral Home, 204 Daniel Webster HWY. Meredith, on Saturday, Jan. 26th from 12pm to 1pm. A Mass will be celebrated in the Trinity Episcopal Church, Route 25, Meredith, on Saturday, Jan. 26th, at 2pm. The Rev. Robin Soller, Rector, will be the celebrant. Burial will be held in the Bean Cemetery, Moultonborough, in the Spring.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Alzheimer's Association, Lakes Region Visiting Nurse Assoc. of Meredith, or the Meals on Wheels Assoc.