Our world lost a beautiful soul when, on Friday, April 11, 2014, Agnes "Nessie" Cairns Hughes passed away peacefully at a hospital surrounded by family. Service: Memorial Mass at 10 a.m. Friday, April 25, at St. Maria Goretti Cathlic Church, 1200 S. Davis Drive, Arlington. Rosary: 9:30 a.m. Friday at the church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery where Nessie will be buried with her late husband, Daniel. A native of Scotland, Nessie was born June 27, 1923, to Daniel and Mary Cairns of Holytown, Lanarkshire. She attended Glasgow University where she earned a master's degree in history. She taught elementary school, but her true vocation was as an Army wife and devoted mother of six. She loved singing, playing piano and was an avid reader and devout Catholic. She spent time tutoring, volunteering at school and teaching religious education. Nessie was liked by all who met her and will be remembered as a caring, gentle person with a great smile and beautiful Scottish brogue. Thanks to all who assisted our mother with her daily needs. A special thanks to the nurses and technicians in the hospice ward who were gentle, kind and respectful. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, May Cairns Larkin; son-in-law, Jack Kern; and husband of 54 years, retired Lt. Col. Daniel F. Hughes. Survivors: She leaves to cherish her memory her sister, Ella Slevin; daughters, Mary Cleve (Rick), Melanie Kern, Kathleen Ditto (Steve) and Michelle Hathaway (Charles); sons, Daniel Hughes (Kathleen) and Peter Hughes (Mary Ellen); a wonderful friend she referred to as her "fifth daughter," Vickie Scott; and many cousins, nieces, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the U.S. and abroad.
Published in Star-Telegram on Apr. 21, 2014