Maurice L. “Johnny” Hughes, age 94, New Mexico native, died peacefully with his family around him on January 5, 2015.
He is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Jettie Estes Hughes; daughter, Jayne Bullington (David); son, John Hughes (Judy); grandchildren, Mark Hughes (Danica), Erica Barajas (Mark), and Tracy Bullington; and great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Alexandra and Jonathan Hughes. He is also survived by brother, Dr. Lloyd Hughes, Cedar Crest, NM, and sister, Ruth Cook, Albuquerque; and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Andrew Jackson (Jack), Leon, Walter and William; sisters, Gertrude, Lorine, and Juanita. Maurice was born January 24, 1920 in Moriarty, NM, the fifth of ten children, to Walter M. and Effie L. Hughes. Maurice graduated from Moriarty High School’s second graduating class of eight students in 1937. He obtained a B.S. in Biology with a pre-med emphasis from the University of New Mexico in 1941, working his way through UNM, much of the time at the library, appropriate to his love of books and history. After UNM, World War II called instead of medical school. Brother Jack suggested they sign up for the Army Air Corps for their service, and they did so together. Maurice attended flight training at several locations in Texas, qualified for multi-engine aircraft, and almost immediately left for Africa where he flew the famous C-47 “Gooney Bird” from Ghana to Egypt to India and the Arabian peninsula. He carried fuel, food, supplies and military pay and expenses in support of the war. He returned to the US in 1944 where he continued to fly transport aircraft in support of the war effort and the development what became the U. S. Air Force in 1946. He met Jettie in 1944 at a servicemen’s social event at a Memphis, TN, church, when she was working in Finance for the Department of Defense.
They were married in Memphis on August 18, 1945, and he elected to remain with the new USAF after the war ended. He served as an Assistant Professor/AF ROTC instructor at NM State University in Las Cruces. He then served in flying and command positions in the southwest, south, Goose Bay, Labrador (“Twice”, Jettie always reminds everyone), Texas and California.
In 1968, he retired from the Air Force after 26 years of service. After retirement, Johnny spent a year adding on to their home in Albuquerque, working with his brother, Walter, and also completing Walter’s cabin. Johnny and Jettie volunteered for many years with Central United Methodist Church as key staff of the fund-raising Thrift Shop. They spent many wonderful years traveling throughout the U.S. with their travel trailer, including a Hughes siblings’ caravan to Alaska. He un-retired to work for Maisel’s Indian Jewelry and Crafts as silver comptroller, after joining other Hugheses to create silver and turquoise jewelry. He volunteered for over 30 years for the IRS and AARP doing free tax preparation for seniors, and served as an instructor for the 55-Alive seniors safe driving program. He and Jettie also volunteered at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta from 1985-1998. Johnny and Jettie spent the last 16 years at Manzano del Sol and the Woodmark assisted living communities, where they made good friends. Johnny was loved and respected by friends and staff for his loving care and dedication to Jettie. He loved reading, history, their dachshunds, turtle rescue, telling jokes, and making the world a cleaner and kinder place.

Interred in Santa Fe National Cemetery with full military honors.