Robert Walter "Bobby" Hughes, Sr., age 86, left his earthly home in Indianola, MS to be with his Lord in Heaven on Tuesday, March 22, 2016. The son of Nell and James Duke Hughes was born and raised in Caile, MS. After graduating from Inverness High School, Bobby proudly served his country as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force. He served in various locations including two years in Greenland where one of his favorite hobbies was ice fishing.

After his honorable discharge from the Air Force, Bobby worked in Indianola, MS and in his free time was a Boy Scout leader for a troop in Inverness. During his mid-twenties, Bobby met the love of his life Nadine Cummins on a blind date on Valentine's Day in 1955 and they were happily married the following April. They would have celebrated 61 years of marriage April 30, 2016.

Nadine and Bobby settled in Indianola, MS to give their family roots and stability as they were growing up. Bobby was a faithful and hands-on father who centered his life on his wife and children. One of his favorite pastimes was to go duck hunting and fishing with his son and daughter. In addition, Bobby embraced his children's friends in many ways, such as feeding them one of his grilled burgers on a Saturday night or throwing "The Heater" from one of his fast pitches during a game of catch with the neighborhood boys. We will be forever grateful for his outstanding example of a godly man who loved his wife, family and friends.

Their church home was First Baptist Church where Bobby was a strong leader serving in various capacities such as church deacon and Sunday school teacher. He also enjoyed cooking for the Men's Brotherhood Breakfasts and was willing to lend an extra hand wherever needed.

Bobby was employed by Sunflower Tractor Company in the late 50's where he worked as a salesman and general manager. He purchased the business in the mid 70's where he remained until his retirement.

During retirement Bobby continued to enjoy his love of the outdoors through his life-long passion for fishing and gardening. He also discovered he had a knack for carving out small houses and birds on cypress wood pulled from his favorite fishing spot on Charlie One Lake. You never saw Bobby without his favorite K-9 sidekick Skippy sitting shotgun in his truck. Bobby and Nadine continued to spend many happy hours vacationing on the White River with their life-long friends Caroline and Dorsey Ray.

Bobby was preceded in death by his parents and his three brothers James Carter, Marion "T. Ray", and Jerry Hughes. He is survived by his loving wife Nadine; his sisters Carrie Nell Shephard of Alpharetta, GA and Evelyn "Sister" Evans of Athens, AL; his daughter Cindy McElmurray and her husband Mike of Kingwood, TX; his son Walter Hughes and his wife Marilyn of Memphis, TN; five grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

We will miss Bobby's clever sense of humor, his kind heart, strong spirit and sweet smile. May his memory live on through his family and friends.

Funeral services were held Thursday, March 24th at 2:30 pm at First Baptist Church in Indianola. Interment followed in Indianola City Cemetery, all under the direction of Burton Funeral Home of Indianola.

The family would like to thank the following caregivers for the loving and supportive service they provided: Dr. Eddie Donahoe and the staff at Indianola Family Medical Group, Carla Jenkins, Lilly Johnson, the nurses and staff at South Sunflower County Hospital and Liberty Health and Rehab. The family would also like to thank the multitude of friends and the First Baptist Church of Indianola for their prayers, loving support and encouragement.

In memory of Bobby Hughes donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Indianola ( www.fbcindianola.com ), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital ( www.stjude.org ) and Porter-Leath (www.porterleath.org).