Obituary of Misty Hughes

Misty Leigh Hughes, 48, of Newland, NC, passed away on January 13, 2023 after a year long illness that she strongly and bravely fought. Misty was born on June 5, 1974 to Henry Sanford and Jacqueline Hughes in Wilmington, North Carolina. She considered Raven Hill on Roaring Creek home. After high school she went on to study emergency medicine, for which she had an incredible passion. She was proud of her accomplishments including being one of the first women in North Carolina to complete swift water rescue and high angle rescue training. She was also always interested in discussing current events, history, and literature. She also loved studying the bible and having those discussions with her dad. Not only did Misty excel in school, but she was also a smooth dancer. She loved teaching her children and grandchildren dance steps. She was a wonderful storyteller, who loved to write down her adventures with her grandchildren. In 1989, she met Scott Hughes, and they were engaged in 1990. They gave birth to their first baby girl in May of 1991, and their second baby girl in February of 1993. This allowed Misty to accomplish what she wanted in life - to love, be loved, and to have a family of her own. She was incredibly in love with Scott, Eden and Sierra. Family was important to her. She and Scott dreamed of all the places they would travel and the adventures they'd experience as a family. It was important to her for them to see the world and experience those dreams. Her daughters have fond memories of her often-mischievous shenanigans. She was known for being a prankster. One fond memory is the time that she convinced her two small children that red starbursts were poisonous and that only mothers could eat them, which her daughters dutifully fulfilled until the later discovery that mom simply loved red starbursts. Another memory is the time she was teaching her children their ABC's by drawing on the wall, much to the horror of her husband who thought that the markers were permanent… they were washable. Scott once walked in to all three girls riding a twin sized mattress down the staircase and being sandwiched between the front door and the wall, laughing and giggling the whole way down. There were 1,000 trips to the pool. Endless hiking adventures. Shell and crab hunting, rock climbing, snorkeling, and old native American ghost stories by the fire. There were too many fishing trips to count, full of rock tossing and laughs. She was an amazing mother, wife, and Nana. Her family was her whole life, and there was never any doubt that they were loved every single day. Misty immediately lit up any room she entered and made an impact on so many people. She was a joyful presence with her colorful clothes, beautiful hair, creative fashion choices, and bubbly personality. She loved her friends and family and filled her home with warmth and kindness. She loved to cook, making many Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for her entire family, and enjoying the fruits of her labor surrounded by love and laughter. Misty was preceded in death by her wonderful father Sanford Hughes and many other cherished family members who she loved sharing her life with. She is survived by her steadfast husband of 32 years Scott Hughes of Roaring Creek; her daughters Eden Hughes (Aaron) of Roaring Creek, and Sierra Houston (Jeffrey) of Ingalls; Her amazing grandchildren, Riley, Connor and Liana Houston of Ingalls; Mother Jacqueline Hughes of Banner Elk NC, Brother Sandford Hughes (Mandy) of Bristol TN, and a multitude of family members and friends who she loved and cherished deeply. Her surviving family would like to extend a special gratitude to the doctors of ETSU Family Medicine in Johnson City, Tennessee. Especially Dr. Whitfield who never gave up on her, and Dr. Loy who took the utmost care. They would also like to extend a special thanks to her Uncle Stanley and Aunt Amy Hughes, who offered an unmatched kindness and caring hearts throughout her life and in her greatest times of need, and always loved her unconditionally. The family requests that colorful flowers and notes are sent to Roaring Creek Missionary Baptist Church in her loving memory, or memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Jude's Children's research hospital in her honor. There will be a visitation from 1:00-2:00 PM on Tuesday, January 17,2023, immediately followed by a short funeral service at Roaring Creek Missionary Baptist Church at 2044 Roaring Creek Road, Newland, NC, 28777 with reverends Dustin Hughes and David Troutman officiating. Austin and Barnes Funeral Home is Serving the Hughes Family.