Deborah Jean Hughes

Deborah Jean Hughes of St. James, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at her home.

Debbie, the daughter of the late Everett and Mabel Veach Hughes, was born March 26, 1957, in St. Louis, Missouri. She was united in marriage to Tom Luebbert on May 17, 1980, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. James, Missouri.

Debbie is survived by her husband, Tom of St. James, Missouri; two sons, Wesley Hughes Luebbert and wife, Karana of St. Louis, Missouri, and Patric Hughes Luebbert of St. James, Missouri; brothers: Dave Hughes and wife, Sherrie of Pacific, Missouri; Bert Hughes and wife, Barbara of Kansas City, Missouri; and Gary Hughes and wife, Patricia of St. James, Missouri; sister, Lucy McWhorter (Greg Reeves) of Columbia, Missouri; and two grandchildren, Wyles Everett Hughes Luebbert and Devlin Jennings Hughes Luebbert.

Debbie is preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Lawrence “Joe” Hughes, and her nephew, Douglas Hughes.

Debbie graduated from John F. Hodge High School in 1975 and held several jobs including Rolla Police dispatcher, corporate employment headhunter, Greene County clerk and lawn mower assembler.  She graduated from Maryville University in St. Louis in 1991 with a degree in Hospital Administration.

Debbie had two sons while living in St. Louis, and motherhood quickly became her “most rewarding career”.  Debbie and Tom moved back to St. James in 1999, and Debbie served on the St. James school board for 6 years. She was able to hand both of her sons their diploma, and she considered that the highlight of her time serving on the board.

Debbie had a love for traveling with her family and enjoyed many adventures such as walking beaches in Florida, whitewater rafting in Yellowstone, horseback riding through Monument Valley in Arizona, and never missing a chance to visit Graceland.

Debbie loved her animals, her flower gardens, her cars and most of all her family.  When her first grandchild was born in 2021, she began assembling a concrete zoo in her front yard.  She painted a life-size giraffe that enamored her grandson and the whole family.

She made an imprint on everyone that she met, and her memory and legacy will be cherished by the ones that loved her the most.

Visitation will be 6:00-8:00 PM Friday, July 21, 2023 at Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri.

Memorial Mass will be 11:00 AM Saturday, July 22, 2023 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. James, Missouri with Father Greg Meystrik. Burial will be in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Cemetery in St. James, Missouri.

Memorials may be made to Phelps County Animal Rescue, 745 E Springfield St., St. James, MO 65559.

Online condolences may be entered at jonesfunerals.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri.

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