Dean E. Hughes

May 7, 1931 - November 6, 2016

COLEBROOK — Dean E. Hughes, 85, of Colebrook, passed away early on Sunday morning, Nov. 6, 2016, at the Morrison Nursing Home in Whitefield NH, after a months-long struggle with cancer. He was born May 7, 1931, in Colebrook, the son of the late Homer J and Florence (Blais) Hughes. He attended local schools and was a 1949 graduate of Colebrook Academy. Dean served with honor in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1952-55 during the Korean conflict. After his military service, Dean was a professional firefighter in Concord for 10 years. He later returned to his home in the north country and was the sexton for the Colebrook cemeteries for 11 years. He also was a well-known truck driver, and worked for Lewis Oil Co. and the Beecher Falls Division of Ethan Allen. In his spare time, Dean was an avid snowmobiler and he enjoyed making maple sugar products in the spring. He also enjoyed time at the family camp on Big Diamond Pond. Dean is survived by two brothers, Alan Hughes and wife Cathie of Charlotte, Vt., and Robert Hughes and wife Lucille of Harvard, Mass.; four step-sons, Berkley Edwards and wife Stella of Colebrook, Bruce Edwards and wife June of Jaffrey, NH, Robert Edwards, and Albert Edwards and companion Sue Hunt of Greensboro, NC; his sister-in-law, Helen Hughes of Colebrook; 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his former wife, Myrtle (Corliss) Hughes in 2011, and a brother, Ronald J. Hughes, earlier in 2016. Calling hours will be on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook, NH. A graveside service with Marine Corps honors will be the next morning on Veterans’ Day – the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month -- in the Colebrook Village Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Dean may be made to the Colebrook Firemen’s Assoc., P.O. Box 273, Colebrook, NH 03576. Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home, Colebrook, NH.