Larry Vernon Hughes

Larry Hughes passed away peacefully with his wife, son, and daughters by his side on April 18, 2021. The son of Paul and Genevieve Hughes, he grew up in Tulsa, OK with his older brother Gary and younger brother Robert.

He graduated from East Central High in Tulsa, OK in 1965. After finishing his undergrad at Oklahoma State University in 1969, he served as a Journeyman missionary in Malawi, Africa. A diving accident cut his service short and injured his spinal cord in 1971. Although not expected to survive, after nine months of intense rehabilitation, he walked out of the hospital with only the aid of crutches. God's plan for Larry wasn't finished.

Upon receiving his master's in social work, he began his 39-year career at Texas Rehabilitation Commission (TRC), where he helped a countless number of people get back to work, and improve their lives. Whether it was facilitating them with a handicap accessible van or into an educational program, he sought. to better his clients' lives everyday. His care for people only accelerated once he left work.

Larry was a loving and devoted husband to his wife of 40 years, Barbara, and was a compassionate father to his children Emily, Jonathan, and Sarah. He served as a deacon at Wilshire and South Garland Baptist Churches for almost 50 years. He coached numerous adult and little league athletic teams and most of his children's friends knew him as Coach Hughes. He loved movies and sports, especially his OSU Cow Pokes.

Larry Hughes lived a remarkable life. He truly embraced every day and when his physical abilities were taken away from him, he persevered. He never sought pity and never let what he was unable to do deter him from what he could do. He saw each day as an opportunity and a gift. He strove everyday in pursuit of living like Christ. Life, he would say has "peaks and valleys but it's beautiful and should be cherished".

He is preceded in death by his mother, Genevieve and two brothers, Robert and Gary. He is survived by his father, Paul, his wife, Barbara, his three children Emily and her husband Sam Caddell, Jonathan and his wife Charlotte Hughes, Sarah and her husband Brandon Hubbard, his five grandchildren Chad and Caroline Caddell, Juliane Hughes, and Sophia and Elijah Hubbard, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles whom he loved dearly.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." - Philippians 4:13