Nancy Hughes

Nancy Freeman Hughes, 71, wife of Henry Walter Hughes III, passed away April 5, 2014, surrounded by her family, at the home of her son. Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m., Thursday, April 10, 2014 at St. Peter''s Episcopal Church, with Father David Ottsen officiating. Burial will follow in Prairie Lea Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 until 7 p.m. Wednesday evening at Memorial Oaks Chapel. Nancy Hughes was born August 3, 1942 in Beaumont, the daughter of Nelson Wright and Norma Greenlese Freeman. She was baptized April 6, 1975 and confirmed May 18, 1975. After graduating from St. John''s High School in Houston, she attended Texas Technical College in Lubbock. On January 26, 1961, she was married to Henry Walter Hughes III. Nancy was active in her community. She served as president for the Brenham Art Club, and was a member of the Pilot Club and Brenham Cow belles. She was a director of the American Paint Horse Association, and chairman of the youth committee of the APHA. She was secretary for the Gulf Coast Paint Horse Club, the South Texas Paint Horse Club, and a past president for the Central Texas Paint Horse Club. She was a lifetime member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and has served as chairman of the Paint Horse Committee. Nancy was one of the founders of the Washington County 4-H Horse Club, and was a club leader for 20 years. She helped begin the judging team for the Washington County 4-H Horse Club, and was instrumental in instigating the horse judging contest at the Youth World Show of the American Paint Horse Association. Nancy enjoyed ranching, as well as being an owner of a ladies clothing store: "Large and Lovely Fashions". Nancy was a loving mother. She delighted in hauling her children and grandchildren to horse shows across the U.S., or wherever their activities needed them to be. Nancy''s interests were horses, especially horse racing, oil painting, reading, antiques, and going to the beach. Nancy was a very gracious person, and generous to others in times of need. Survivors include her husband, Henry Walter Hughes III of Brenham; son and daughter-in-law Henry Wright "Bubba" and Kerry Hughes of Washington; daughters and sons-in-law Judith Carolyn "Judy" and Randy Kapchinski of Brenham, and Susannah and Edd Compton of Houston; grandchildren: Whitney Ann and Zach Wagner, Henry Wade Hughes, Heather Marie Kapchinski, and Virginia Dawn Kapchinski; one great-grandchild, Sydney Claire Wagner; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Herbert and Patricia Hughes of Brenham; sister and brother-in-law Jody and Alan Richards of Horseshoe Bay, TX. Other surviving relatives include Annie Lester, Herbert Scott Hughes, Kelley and Dana Hughes, O''Brien and Lori Hughes, Mike and Renee Leifeste, Jim and Chelyne Leifeste, Lacey Leifeste, and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, N. W. "Dick" and Norma Freeman, parents-in-law Henry Waters and Maude Bess Hughes, a grandchild, Rachel Renee Hughes, and nephew, Patrick Spann Greenwood. Serving as pallbearers are Bob Burch, Kelley Hughes, O''Brien Hughes, Scott Hughes, Mike Leifeste and Bennett Sachtleben. Honorary pallbearers are Jim Leifeste, Travis Sachtleben, Troy Sachtleben, Tom Steifel, Jack Fisher, Judy Jordan, Patricia Sachtleben, Joan Shirley, and Laura Sparks. Memorials may be directed to Hospice Brazos Valley, SIRE Houston''s Therapeutic Equestrian Centers, or to Rhizokids International. Funeral arrangements for Nancy Freeman Hughes are entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W. Main, Brenham. To post a tribute to the family, visit www.memorialoakschapel.com.