My Friend Scotty Hughes of Del City Oklahoma

I lost a good friend this last week. Here is his obituary as it appeared in the local newspaper.

Timothy Hughes
Timothy Scott "Scotty" Hughes, September 22, 1963 March 3, 2008. Scott was born in Altus, OK to Tommy Dee Hughes and Donna Gail Hughes, and lived his early childhood years in Altus and Tulsa, OK. Scott and his family moved to their permanent home in Del City, in 1972. He spent the next several years forging lifelong friendships, making a name for himself on wrestling mats nationwide, and gaining the reputation as an athletic, laid back young man with incredibly infectious laughter. Scott was a proud member of the original "Loungers" (A spirit club so to speak...more later) at Del City High School, where he and his beloved buddies graduated in 1982. After high school, Scotty enlisted in the United States Army, becoming a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, NC. He furthered his wrestling career as a member of the All Army Wrestling team stationed at Ft. Dix, NJ. During his time on active duty, Scott married and became father to Brody Scott Hughes in 1984, and Cody James Hughes in 1986. Upon his release from active duty, Scott continued his military career with the 95th Army Reserve Division in Midwest City, as a US Army Drill Instructor. He proudly retired with 20 years of decorated military service to his country. Scotty was an Oklahoma City firefighter assigned to the red shift out of Station 14. He began his firefighting career in Del City in 1988, moving to the Oklahoma City department a few years later. His almost 20 years of service to his community included firefighter, instructor, and EMT. He received recognition for his search and rescue missions after both the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Murrah building and the aftermath of the May 3rd Tornado. Scotty was loved by many friends and family and will be greatly missed. He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Alfred and Ronnie Hughes, and Harry and Lois Wagoner, all of Altus and his father, Tommy Dee Hughes. He is survived by his son, Brody Scott Hughes, daughterinlaw, Jennifer Hughes, grandson, Kaden Cole Hughes son, Cody James Hughes his mother, Donna Gail Hughes 2 brothers, Kent Hughes and Brent Hughes sisterinlaw, Stephanie Hughes nephews, Braidon, Bryson, Brock and aunt, Vicki Advant as well as, loving cousins and a host of friends that will never forget the gracious and unassuming man whose life touched so many. Scotty was very proud of his sons, Brody, a combat veteran Marine, and Cody, an outdoor television personality. He loved them very much. He was passionate about his family, his friends, his country, and most of all, his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, whom above all he truly desired to serve. Be at peace now Scotty. A celebration of the life of Scott Hughes will he held Friday, March 7th, from 6 8 pm at Candlewood Chapel. Funeral Services are 2 pm, Sat., March 8th, at Sunny Lane Family Church, under the direction of Ford Funeral Service. Burial will follow at Sunny Lane Cemetery, in Del City.

Here is what I have written about the funeral:

I attended the funeral yesterday. It hurt. It also had a bittersweet sense to it as it was very good to see many of my old comrades. I was flat out blown away by some things. I was quite impressed to see so many people show for Scotty. I was very proud of his accomplishments in the military and as a firefighter and father. I was really impressed by the character and manner of his sons. I was really touched to realize that Scotty remembered and thought so highly of his classmates and the fun we had and that everyone that knew him knew about US. They knew how tight and loyal to one another, for the most part, us schoolmates had once been. I was really blown away that all these years later many people, pillars of the community now, remember the Lounger thing (A hybrid between a spirit club and a car club type gang of rebel rousers).
I wish I'd had my emotions under enough control to take the opportunity offered to say something on Scotty's behalf... to give a memory. What I might have said would have been that the main things I remember about him were his infectious laugh and smile and his loyalty. I will also admit that he was one of about three guys that I was much larger than but secretly intimidated about tangling with. As noted by one of his sons at the funeral he was one of the toughest and dirtiest scrappers of all times. The other two I had that respect for were Jimmy Coates and Ronnie Wilkerson who ironically were pallbearers yesterday. You just never knew what one of those scallywags was gonna get you with in a mock brawl, a vicious titty twister or a broom handle to the back of the skull. All three reminded me of the sneaky and pernicious Kato from those old Pink Panther movies. Of course I loved it.
Scotty was only upset with me once that I remember because he had felt I did not carry my weight in a rumble with some Bombers because I was trying to stay out of trouble with my football coaches. Amends were made, but I have never forgotten how bad it felt to get dressed down by him.
I loved Scotty. I am sad that I missed quite a bit of his adult life. The man was the real deal, a good red blooded, solid, dude that I am honored to count as a friend and countryman. I, like the rest of us, wish I could have known he was in distress or had the chance to talk to him. I am glad to say that he knows I loved him and missed him. I saw him at one of the reunions and it was a real highlite. The last time I saw him I was hugging his neck.

Yesterday really was a reminder of the comraderie we once all shared back in the schooldays. I love you all, even the ones I may not have known that well, because you are my people we are essentially of the same stock, as corny as it sounds. Our people are unique and I dare say somewhat special in all the world... in a good way for the most part. Our relationship is spiritual. That is a side of me myself that I have developed a lot since the old school days. If I could go back and change one thing it would be that I would have focused more on the spiritual side among my friends. As has become apparent with the loss of our brother Scotty, that's the part that matters the most. Any of you can contact me anytime. I love to talk about the meaning of life. Maybe we can figure it out together.