Ruby Irene Hughes

Ruby Irene Hughes of Oklahoma City died at age 86 on Monday, September 6th of natural causes. Irene was born on October 10, 1923 near Crescent, Oklahoma to Cecil and William Oscar Dickerson where she grew up with her large family on a cotton farm in Oak Valley District. While at Big Four High School, Irene played basketball all four years and was a high scorer. In 1937, the Dickerson family moved to San Francisco which was Irene and her sister Millie's first trip across state lines. While celebrating Thanksgiving in San Francisco, Irene's cousin brought his U.S. Navy shipmate home with him for dinner. The young man who came for dinner that night was Charles Hughes. A love affair ensued and Charles and Irene were married in Washington State on July 8, 1943. After they were married, Charles remained in the Navy and while he was overseas, their daughter Donna was born. Irene began bowling with friends and family for fun while she lived in California. That hobby continued over the years and as her family moved back to Guthrie and eventually on to Stillwater she joined local bowling leagues. While in Stillwater, Irene worked at the Election Board and she became an avid Oklahoma State Cowboys fan, attending many sporting events which gave her years of enjoyment. The Hughes family moved to Oklahoma City in 1966 where Irene was employed by Mid-Continent Life. Irene continued to bowl and attended the Women's International Bowling Tournament for 25 years, many times with her sister, Millie. After Irene retired, she enjoyed other hobbies such as painting and RV trips with family and friends. She loved babies and was thrilled to pieces when her great-grandson Charles was born in 2008. Irene was a skilled seamstress, knitter and loved to spend time in her garden. If one were to imagine Irene at her happiest, it would be sitting around a table with all of her loved ones while eating a bean supper and just laughing until it hurt. Irene was preceded in death by her husband Charles. She is survived by her daughter Donna Freeman, her granddaughter Shannon Hoye (Michael Hoye), her great-grandson Charles Hoye, and her sister Millie Weaver Gray of Guthrie, OK.