Mary Ellen Hughes, age 100, passed away on Nov. 7, 2025. Mary spent 36 years at Boeing in Wichita. She finished at Boeing as a supervisor in the Military Parts Control Area, retiring in 1985.
Mary was born on Dec. 21, 1924 in Partridge. She grew up with her parents, Bryan and Imo Tedder, and siblings, Helen Ada and Bryan, Jr., on a farm in rural Partridge. After graduating from Partridge High School, she married Robert L. Hughes on Jan. 9, 1944. 
They lived first in Wichita, and then moved to Goddard, where they raised their four children. Mary was very active in cheering her children on in their many sports activities. She also was very involved in the Wichita Sweet Adelines until her retirement in 1985. After retiring, they moved to Holiday Island, Ark., as they started their 27-year vacation. This turned out to be a great deal for the rest of the family, too, as Mary loved family get-togethers, and many family reunions were held in the area, which included hundreds of rounds of golf. Mary has spent the last 13 years in Derby.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 73 years, Bob Hughes; sons, Neil D. Hughes and H. Earl Hughes; parents, Bryan E. and Mary Imo Tedder; and siblings, Helen Ada Nelson and Bryan E, Tedder, Jr. She is survived by her children, Rob (Suzy) Hughes and Pam (Dan) Dayhuff, and daughters-in-law, Connie Hughes and Marjorie Hughes. Mary also is survived by nine grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, and multiple great-great-grandchildren. Many other friends and relatives also survive Mary. 
A celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, at the Madison Avenue United Methodist Church, 900 E. Madison Ave., Derby. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Mary’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or to The Salvation Army South Central Area Command, 350 N. Market, Wichita, KS 67202. 
We would like to add a special thank you to Derby Assisted Living and Heartland Hospice for the wonderful, compassionate care that our mother received.