Dwain Hughes

April 15, 2021

Dwain Hughes, of the Pennsboro community south of Greenfield, Missouri, departed this life and was called to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, April 11, 2021, in his home surrounded by his loving family at the age of 91.

Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 17, 2021 in the Pennsboro Cemetery. Family and friends were welcome to view and pay their respects on Friday from 2 to 7 p.m. in Greenfield Funeral Chapel.
Dwain was born in Dade County, Missouri on December 4, 1929, to Noel G. and Marie V. Johnson Hughes. He was raised on the family farm near the Sac River northeast of Greenfield. He attended elementary school at Shaw school and entered Greenfield High in 1943 where he graduated with the class of 1947. After graduation, he attended SMS in Springfield, Missouri, for three semesters before returning to the family farm to help out with its operation.

Dwain married the love of his life, Leta Nadine Batten, at her parents’ home in Pennsboro on March 4, 1950. To this union, two daughters, Marcia and Linda, were born. Dwain and Nadine lived their entire married lives, of over 71 years, on their Missouri Century Farm. Dwain was a loving husband, daddy, and Papa. He had a gentleness about him that made everyone around him feel important and loved. He leaves a legacy and a void in the lives of all who were lucky enough to call him family and friend. Dwain’s pride and joy was always his family.

Dwain began farming the Pennsboro farm in 1950 and continued farming for nearly 70 years before illness forced him to retire in 2016. Throughout his farming career, he took pride in it and worked hard, first as a dairy and crop farmer for nearly 30 years, then selling his dairy herd in exchange for raising crops and beef cattle.
In high school, Dwain acquired the nickname of “Shorty”’ but he was anything but short. He was a gentle giant who would go the extra mile and give anyone the shirt off his back. He was kind and rarely, if ever, raised his voice. Dwain was a true gentleman in every sense of the word. Even with the dementia robbing him of his memory, he never lost his “gentlemanly” ways. He loved unconditionally and never passed up an opportunity to teach, help, and inspire his children, nieces and nephews, and those around him.
Dwain was very active in his community and church. He served on many boards over the years including the Pennsboro Cemetery, Greenfield Extension, Greenfield R-IV School, Greenfield Swimming Pool, MFA Oil delegate, Lockwood MFA Exchange, and the Ozark Electric Cooperative Board of Directors. He served faithfully as deacon, trustee, and president of the board at the First Christian Church in Greenfield, where he had been a member since 1953. He loved his community, church, school and town; and was actively involved in doing his part to make each of them better.

Through the years, Dwain enjoyed bowling, playing cards, attending sporting events, water skiing, going to the lake and spending time with family and friends. He rarely missed a child’s or grandchild’s sporting or music event. He was their biggest fan and traveled miles to support their endeavors. He was so proud of his children and grandchildren; and as the years passed and the great grands came along, he was happiest when he and Nadine could spend time with their family and share in their lives.

Dwain loved to bowl. He and Nadine enjoyed nearly 25 years of Dwain participating all across the U.S. at the National Amateur Bowling Congress. Even after those years, he and Nadine continued league bowling every week in Springfield until he was nearly 91 years of age.

He and Nadine were big MSU mens’ basketball supporters holding season tickets for years. There are countless funny stories about the many Dade county youth and adults that Dwain taught to water ski. He would stay in the water alongside a beginning skier all morning trying to get him or her up. No matter how many times he or she failed, Dwain never lost his patience. He had a way of encouraging and building confidence in those around him.

Dwain took great pride in his family and farm. He will be sadly missed by his family and friends; yet his ideals and principles will live on in the lives of those he touched.
Dwain was preceded in death by his parents, Noel and Marie Hughes; his mother- and father-in-law, Homer and Myrtle Allison Batten; his brother and sister-in-law, Johnson and Betty Hughes; his sister and brother-in-law, Sue and Roy Carter; his brothers- and sisters-in- laws: Richard and Evelyn Shaw; Harold and Vesta Brake; Wesley and Dorthy Batten; Howard Suttee; Don and Louanna Sarver; James and Marjorie Batten; John Batten; and his youngest daughter, Linda Hughes Andrews.

Survivors include his loving wife, Nadine of the home; sister-in-law, Marilyn Batten of Overland Park, Kansas; daughter, Marcia Rader and husband, Randy, of Butler, Missouri; son-in-law, David Andrews of Branson; grandson, Eric Andrews and wife, Brooke, of Benton, Arkansas; granddaughter, Kristen Diehl and husband, Trent, of Butler, Missouri; granddaughter, Kellie Davidson and husband, Michael, of Butler, Missouri; grandson, Colby Andrews and wife, Heather, of Mesa, Arizona; great-grandchildren: Tanner Diehl, Mason Diehl, Dylan Davidson, Lucas Davidson, Cooper Andrews, Camden Davidson, Gavin Andrews, and Karsyn Davidson; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church of Greenfield. Services were under the care of Greenfield Funeral Chapel.