Dovie Elizabeth Hughes

Dovie "Jackie" Elizabeth Reece Hughes passed away at home on July 21, 2025 in Weatherford, Tx at the age of 94 with her surviving children at her bedside.

Jackie was the youngest of 9 children born to Paris G Reece and Eliza J Perry Reece on July 3, 1931 in Itasca, Texas. She graduated from Itasca HS in 1947 at the age of 16 and like her 5 sisters, went on to become a Registered Nurse. She graduated from City County Hospital Nursing School (St Joseph's Hospital) in FW.

Jackie worked as First Assistant in the surgical practice of the late Dr. Ted Lace and then later went on to be Chief OR Nurse at both Osteopathic and Medical Plaza Hospitals in Fort Worth where she was asked to contribute to the design of the surgical suites as that hospital was being built. Over the years, she developed many life long friendships with her coworkers and colleagues.

In 1957, Jackie married E. C. McKelvey and they went on to have 3 children. They moved from Fort Worth to Weatherford then to Granbury to fulfill their mutual dream of building, owning and operating McKelvey Marina which she helped E.C. to grow into a successful and staple business of the Granbury community.

After their divorce, Jackie returned with her children to Fort Worth and resumed nursing as Chief OR Nurse. She reunited with Roy Hughes, a friend she had met while she was in nursing school. They fell in love and married in 1984, living in Fort Worth, Bartlesville, Ok and eventually settling into retirement in Temple, Tx.

In Temple, Jackie was active in prison ministries, as a hospital volunteer, a member of the Gideon's Auxiliary, and actively volunteered at Temple Bible Church. She enjoyed crafting, being of service, traveling and spending time with her large extended family. Jackie devoted her life to the service of others as she was a natural care taker. She never saw a need that she didn't attempt to meet.

Jackie was known for her service to others, her unconditional love and her devotion to family. She was a fierce defender of her children in all things, modeling for them a strong sense of justice and integrity. Her children and grandchildren were blessed by her legacy of abundant patience, quiet but fierce inner strength, spiritualism, tenacity and a deep well of unconditional love and generosity. She taught them, leading by example, to live in joy and in thanksgiving despite life's challenges.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her 3 brothers and 5 sisters, her husband Roy, and her sons, Ted Reece McKelvey, and Richard Allen McKelvey (son of E.C) as well as her children's father. She is survived by her daughters Katherine McKelvey and Monica (Bill) Merritt, Carol (Steve) Taylor (dtr of E.C), Roy's children Gary, Keith and Jann, along with their children, her grandchildren Morgan (Aaron) Haskin, Will Merritt, and Gage Merritt, great granddaughter Reese Haskin as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and lifelong friends.

The family would like to thank Grace P, Kathy T, Tosha W, Erika C and Dusty A of Concho Hearts Hospice Fort Worth for their love, care and support for/of us and our mom during this time as well as Sara Byrd for her loving care of Mom for the last 4 years.

A Celebration of Life will be planned for a future date, TBD.