Joan Peek Hughes

When laughter and smiles are most needed, there is a fragment missing in our world these days. On August 7, 2024, after 94 years of life, love, and numerous adventures in Las Vegas and beyond, Joan Peek Hughes - our beautiful mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, (Granny, Darlin), great-grandmother, and friend to all, left her bright light to shine in our hearts, and gained her well-deserved angelic wings. She was dearly loved by all who knew her. Her outward beauty was equally matched with the purity of her heart and soul. She lit up a room with her vivacious personality, warm smile, red lipstick, and her always-manicured red fingernails. She had a sparkle about her that never seemed to dull, even throughout the trials and tribulations of life. She handled everything with her faith, an enviable positive attitude, the gift of gab, and with gratitude for each day she was blessed to be with her family and friends. 

 Joan surprised her parents when she was born on July 16, 1930, in Brinkley, Arkansas as they were passing through on a train to visit family. When she was a child, her family lived in Vivian, Louisiana, Gladewater, Texas, Montgomery, Alabama, and Kilgore, Texas. She attended Kilgore Grade School and Kilgore High School, where she was voted Class Beauty Queen. She went to Kilgore Junior College for bookkeeping. After years of living in the south, she moved to Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, Loren. She traveled to Texas and Louisiana every summer thereafter to spend quality time with family and friends. She lovingly maintained relationships as she was not one to let time nor distance change the closeness she shared with anyone. She also never lost her southern accent. Along with her sweet southern drawl, her friendliness to everyone, and her never aging skin and beauty, people were magnetically drawn to her. She was blessed to have loved and been loved by so many in her lifetime.

 She was a true southern lady who dressed fashionably in cheerful colors from head to toe, always bringing sunshine with her, sharing kind words toward everyone, and to whom nobody was ever a stranger. She quickly made friends wherever she went. Being in her captivating presence, one always felt surrounded by loving warmth, acceptance, and an exuberance for life. Her laugh was contagious, scattering its burst of happiness to anyone near. She loved to talk, about anything…anytime…to anyone! Her favorite stories involved tales of her travel adventures and any account detailing how incredible her family members were, from her children to her great nieces and nephews. She had a memory of each and every one. Even though her large family was scattered around the country in various stages of life, she loved keeping in touch with them and enjoyed watching the family tree grow branches. She was the proud matriarch of our amorous family. 

 We imagine her to have been met by her parents, Edward Leonard Peek and Inez Kinmon Peek, her brothers, Edward Leonard Peek, Jr, Robert Sherwood Peek, William Maxey Peek, sister in-law, JoAnn Brooks Peek, her beloved niece Sharon Peek Shoenemann, and her loving husband, Loren Joseph Hughes. We imagine she also found all the dear friends who went before her. She most likely gathered them all around to tell stories as she loved to do, to play card games, and somehow found a Keno machine to play.

 Joan leaves with us memories of her vibrant personality, a genuine love of laughter and fun, kindness beyond measure, and her unwavering love for and devotion to those she loved. Carrying on with her light are her son and daughter in law, Edward and Sandy Hughes; son and daughter in law, Keith and Laura Hughes; her daughter and son in-law, Nancy and Jeff Rowe; her “baby sister” and brother in-law, Mary and Thomas McKay; granddaughters, Candice Jackson, Mandy Poulsen, Mary Ann Hughes-Butts, Lauren Hughes, Annie Rowe, one grandson, Joseph Rowe; and four great-grandchildren. In addition, she leaves her light with nieces; Jan Hattaway (Milton), Susan Kanach (Keith), and Pamela Jean Peek; four nephews, Mac Peek, David Peek, Robert Peek (Angele), Bill Peek, Jr., and several great and great-great-nieces and nephews, and many friends, whom she called family. 

 A celebration of a life well lived will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 1:00pm at the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home in Kilgore, Texas with Rev. David Hampton officiating. To signify the color, she brought to all the lives she touched, attendees are asked to honor Joan by wearing either her favorite color, red, or another bright color. The service will be followed by a graveside ceremony at Kilgore Cemetery. Guests are then invited to The Back Porch to share hugs, stories, and food.