Elizabeth A. “Bette” Hughes

Elizabeth A Hughes, of Oak Creek, WI, born September 24th, 1942 to Richard J. and Marcella C. Hughes in Kenosha, left this world peacefully while holding her children’s hands, on September 25th, 2019 at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee.

Raised in Kenosha, “Bette” attended Mary D. Bradford High and received her undergraduate degree in 1964 from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. After her graduate studies at UW Milwaukee, (while also raising two young children), she continued her career in special education, finally retiring in 2001 with Racine County School Office as the Assistant Director of Special Education. Outside of her study of biology, botany, and education, her interests brought her to learn everything from motorcycle riding to pottery making, to attending flight school. She truly was open to all she could experience in life. A big lesson for us all.

She loved turtles, hot air balloons, Ireland, kites, laughing, hot coffee, camping, relaxing in Arizona, gardening, her multitude of pets over the years, roast beef “sammiches” and pickles, traveling on a whim, spending time with her Grandchildren, watching her son play the bagpipes, shopping the jewelry counter at Boston Store, her (very-fast, lead-foot-Bette) Acura, laughing even more, clowns, the mountains in Colorado, sunrises and sunsets, her turtle tattoo, attending her daughters plays, making pottery and jewelry, covered bridges, bells, teasing her nephew Mark Bloom (with love!), reusing an empty jar, ice-cold drinks, cheering her children on throughout the years, and creating everlasting memories for her loved ones. She truly was more remarkable than she realized.

Her infectious, adventurous, loving, and encouraging spirit will be missed but felt for eternity.

Bette joins her parents, and sister, Patricia Hughes, as well as her infant daughter Josie Sherry, and nephew Thomas Whitford and many beloved family and friends in peaceful rest, until her next visit.

She was fiercely proud of, and would light up with excitement when speaking of her surviving children; son Christopher S. Sherry, (Liz Sherry) AZ,  and daughter Kathryn Sherry (Rochelle Herrmann) WI, and got the biggest kick out of her grandchildren Osten and Paulina Sherry, always doing her most to be a fun and playful Grandma. She will be missed by her surviving sister, Susan C. Hughes, her Grandchildren, nephews and nieces, a multitude of family and friends, but most of all by her children, who were equally proud of her, and learned what it means to lead by example, and live with an open heart, and an even bigger sense of humor. So if you are able to, go out and fly a kite, or wake up for tomorrow’s sunrise, and think on Bette, her big smile, and hearty laugh, and give her a wave.