Rodney Keith Hughes, 49, of Carthage, Texas passed away on May 4, 2018 in Carthage, Texas.  He was born June 24, 1968 in Pasadena, Texas to Leonard and Rena (Barrett) Hughes.  Funeral service will be held Friday May 11, 2018 at 3 p.m. at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 4417 CR 4054, Timpson, Texas with Bro. Fred Wilcox and Bro. Eric Pledger officiating.  Interment will follow in Mt. Olive Cemetery, Timpson, Texas.  Visitation will be held Thursday May 10, 2018 from 6-8 p.m. at Taylor Funeral Home, 511 Ross Graves Dr., Timpson, Texas.  

 

Rodney began school in Pasadena. School and Rodney did not agree and everyday he would come home crying to go see his Pawpaw in Garrison.  In 1975, they moved to Chireno and two years later settled in Center where Rodney completed his education. Rodney felt at home in Deep East Texas. After high school, he went to work at Moore Business Forms and worked there for many years until an accident on the job.  When he couldn’t be released to work, Rodney decided to use this as an opportunity to further his education. He enrolled in TSTC in Marshall and received his Associate of Applied Science Degree in Electrical/Computerized Control Systems Technology in 2004. With his degree, Rodney secured a job with Chesapeake Energy and had a successful and prosperous career there until his failing health forced him to step down. 

 

 

On July 29, 1989, Rodney married the love of his life, Janice Schulz. Through their 28 years of marriage, Rodney and Janice stood together and supported each other through years of infertility, Rodney’s injury and recovery while attending college, Janice’s battle with cancer and stepping up to care for Rodney’s father, Leonard during his battle with cancer. Their lives were completed the day they welcomed their only son, Granger into the world. Words cannot describe how much Rodney loved his son. Granger was his pride and joy. He was his biggest fan and found no greater joy than being his Daddy. The bond between father and son will never be broken. 

 

Rodney was an avid outdoorsman. He could escape the pressures of the world casting a line on the lake, chasing down hogs in the woods or hunting for the perfect deer to hang on the wall. Some of the best times were had with family and friends fishing and hunting. He also very much enjoyed a friendly competition with Granger on xBox live. Those two could really get after it behind those controls and watching and listening to them was more entertaining than the game itself. Janice would say it wasn’t so friendly at times when Granger was winning (which was most of the time) because Rodney could be a sore loser. He also had two special four-legged friends that he enjoyed having around every day, Bell and Abby. Rodney was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Timpson. 

 

In his younger years, Rodney was described as a “trick driver” by his family. He could always find himself in trouble behind the wheel of a vehicle. Rodney’s dad bought him two used trucks as a teen and the scrap yard became their fate after the tough love he showed them on the road. His Daddy let him purchase a brand new truck when he was 17, a two-toned beauty that he was so proud of. Of course, rambunctious Rodney’s driving soon took its toll and he wrecked that one, too. But that didn’t stop him, and it actually produced one of the fondest memories for his family. Rodney decided to make the best of a terrible situation and totally repainted the truck. 

Rodney was a light-hearted and loving man that was a pleasure to spend time with. He was a devoted husband, caring and compassionate father and a true friend that will be dearly missed. 

Rodney is survived by his loving wife, Janice Schulz Hughes; son, Granger Keith Hughes; mother, Rena Sue Hughes; mother-in-law, Sue Schulz; numerous aunts and uncles; and a host of family and friends that will miss him dearly.

 

He is preceded in death by his father, Leonard C. Hughes; maternal grandparents, Gordon and Clotte Barrett; paternal grandparents, Cleave and Gertie Hughes; and father-in-law, John Schulz.

To send condolences or to sign an online register, please visit www.taylorfh.net.