The Rev. Edward L. Hughes, a Palmer resident, died July 30, 2008 at Providence Extended Care in Anchorage from complications brought on by Alzheimer’s disease. He was 83.

A memorial service in his honor will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Muldoon Christian Assembly on DeBarr Road in Anchorage. The Revs. Kent Redfearn and JD Duncan will officiate. Private interment will take place at the Palmer Pioneer Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be Norm Klann, Walt Nielsen, Al Hines, the Rev. Dale Umphrey, the Rev. R. Perretti, Jim Rowland, Ted Baker, Ralph Seekins and Dan Duncan.  

Hughes was born July 25, 1925 in Juneau, where he graduated from high school before completing his studies at Southwestern University in Texas. He was a member of Sea Alaska Corp. In addition to living in Juneau, Fairbanks, Soldotna and Palmer, he was pastor for churches in Petersburg from 1955 to 1960, Fairbanks for 13 years, Walteria, Calif., for 13 years and Charter Oaks, Calif., for five years. In 1989, he retired from the First Assembly of God Church in Fairbanks. He was a member of the general council of the Assemblies of God.

His son said, “Dad was a wonderful, loving husband and father. He never forgot his roots of being raised in the Juneau Children’s Home, which turned his life around. He was eternally grateful to Lyle and Helen (‘Auntie’) Johnson, who poured their love into him. Dad loved, in his early years, working for the home, raising money in the Lower 48. He loved hunting and fishing, photography and passed up very few opportunities to participate in one of these activities. As a pastor, he had a heart for missions and traveled around the world to mission fields. He loved meeting friends at coffee shops to talk and visit. Some of his favorites were the Moose is Loose in Soldotna and McDonald’s in Palmer.”

Hughes is survived by his wife, Jeanne, of Palmer; son Lyle (Marie) of Redwood City, Calif.; daughter Marilyn Harris of Palmer; grandsons Brent, Mel, Ellis and Cameron of California; granddaughters Jeanne Harris of Fairbanks and Megan Harris of Texas; grandson Scott Hughes of California; sisters Myrtle Jorgensen of Wasilla, Shirley Stearns of Seattle and Lennie Johnson of Fairbanks; and his extended family of God.

He was predeceased by his parents and brothers Stanley, Roscoe, Frankie and Patrick.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the giver’s favorite mission in loving memory of the Rev. E.L. Hughes.

Valley Funeral Homes & Crematory of Palmer and Wasilla is assisting the family.