Ray Charles Hughes

Ray Charles Hughes, 85, of North Vernon, passed away at 2:38 p.m. on Monday, July 27, 2026, in Almont, Colorado.

Born October 9, 1940, in Grant County, Indiana, he was the son of the late Loval and Mildred (Parson) Hughes. Ray married Brenda Pearl Leverage on May 30, 1965 at Tea Creek Baptist Church in North Vernon.

Ray was a 1958 graduate of Paris Crossing High School. He was a veteran of the United States Army, serving from 1959 through 1961. Ray worked at Cummins on the assembly line; he retired in 1993 after 30 and a half years. After Cummins, he worked for the county highway. They called him “2 Day Ray” because he only worked two days each week. He also later worked for Biehle Electric. Ray was a member of Tea Creek Baptist Church, the Senior Center, Jennings County Council, and the Brownstown Racing Hall of Fame. His hobbies included driving race cars, motorcycles, go carts and ATVs. He enjoyed reading, 5k walks, and being a Purdue sports fan. Ray’s two favorite words were Please & Thank You.

He is survived by his wife, Brenda Hughes of North Vernon; son, Trent Hughes of Morriston, Florida; daughters, Theresa (Donnie) Brewer and Becky (Paul) Willson, both of North Vernon; brothers, John Loval (Nancy) Hughes of North Vernon and H. Kevin (Sherry) Hughes of Commiskey; sisters, Sharon Galliher of Commiskey and Beth Hughes of Seymour; grandchildren, Brenden Hughes of Lakeland, Florida, Alexa Hughes of Orlando, Florida, Rachel (Shayne) Wilson and Emily (Mark Sargent) Brewer, both of North Vernon, Kasha Parks of Indianapolis, Keegan (Alexis) York of Greenwood, and Kamren Parks of Commiskey; great-grandchildren, Addison Wilson, Chloe Wilson, and Kaitlynn Wilson, all of North Vernon, Kolton Parks and Jason Parks, both of Commiskey.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Michael Hughes; and sister, Pat Simmons.

The funeral service for Ray will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at Tea Creek Baptist Church, in North Vernon. The visitation for family and friends will be from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at Dove-Sharp & Rudicel Funeral Home and Cremation Service, in North Vernon, and from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at Tea Creek Baptist Church.

Memorials may be made in honor of Ray through the funeral home to Tea Creek Baptist Church Youth.

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