Terry H. Hughes

Terry H. Hughes, known by many as Tamale, age 83, of Marysville, Kansas, died April 17, 2023, at Community Memorial Healthcare in Marysville. A Memorial Gathering for Terry will be held on Friday, April 28, from 12 noon to 3 p.m. at the Historic Union Pacific Railroad Depot in Marysville. Lunch will be provided. Terry was born March 10, 1940, in Denver, Colorado, to Russell and Pauline Hughes. He graduated from Arvada High School in 1958 and attended Colorado State University. At age twenty, Terry was hired on with the Union Pacific Railroad for what he anticipated would be a summer job. The job lasted forty-two years until he retired in 2002. Wishing to leave the large city of Denver, Terry was lucky to find another railroader in Marysville, Kansas that was willing to trade seniority with him. Terry transferred to work in Marysville in 1979. Terry married Karen Ketter on August 8, 1985. He appreciated the joys of farm life on their small farm northeast of Marysville for twenty years. In 1992, Terry fulfilled a dream by building an oak barn on their farm using native oak harvested from Karen’s family farm. Terry raised and trained horses. He acquired several horse drawn carriages and enjoyed giving rides and participating in events with his team of beautiful matching black horses. Terry and Karen retired to a home in Marysville where he was still able to enjoy his horses, gardening, fishing, card playing, dancing, watching baseball and TV shows about nature and history. Terry was an excellent cook and especially liked hot food. He would even stash a jalapeno in his pocket in case he ate a meal away from home. Besides being an oral storyteller, Terry documented some of his stories for others to enjoy. In January 2013 Terry was honored as a winner in the Beech Kansas Factual Story Essay Contest. Terry was elected to and served on the Marysville City Council from January 2018 through December 2021. Terry felt lucky to be located close to the walking trail on which he and Johnny, his blonde lab dog, spent many hours. Terry reached a milestone by walking the distance across Kansas eight times by his eightieth birthday in 2020. Terry felt an intense spiritual connection to nature, animals, birds and wildlife. Terry used his many hours on the trail as personal time for reflection and meditation. Terry was blessed with an interesting life filled with unending adventures, a loving wife and many wonderful friends. He is preceded in death by his son Devin Hughes, his parents, brother Bryan Hughes and brother James Hughes. Survivors include his wife Karen Hughes, Marysville, Kan., sons, Kelly (Debbie) Hughes, Nevada, Mo., Casey (Angel) Hughes, Jefferson City, Mo., daughter, Becki (Kevin) Wiggins, Jefferson City, Mo., nephew Brad (Vanessa) Hughes, Montrose, Colo., special friend, Jennifer Downard, Manhattan, Kan., brothers-in-law Ralph (Jane) Ketter, La Luz, N.M., Larry (Kathy) Ketter, Home, Kan., sisters-in-law Janet (Lloyd) Rose, Frankfort, Kan., Mary (Thomas) Nowak, Salina, Kan., DeAnn (Steven) Clingan, Indianapolis, Ind., Gena Ketter, Washington, Kan., eight grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the established Memorial Funds for the Blue River Rail Trail or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Contributions may be sent in care of Kinsley Mortuary. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Terry H. Hughes, please visit our flower store.