Delores Jean "Dee" Hughes

Delores (Dee) Jean Hughes, born September 26th, 1947 in Hampton Iowa, the third of 4 children to Herb and Esther Muhlenbruck. She started grade school in Hansell, Iowa and moved to Colorado in 1958. Attended Truscott Junior High School and 3 years at Bill Reed High School. She graduated in 1965 from Loveland High School, the first class to graduate from the "new high school". After graduation, she married Arlan Massey and had two children, Tina and Mike. They later divorced. Delores' working years began at Conrad Ball Junior High in 1974 as a teachers' aide. Her lasting belief is that she learned more about educating from her students than any college would be able to teach. In 1977, she began work at Hewlett Packard, later to become Agilent Technologies, and retired from there in 2005.
Dee spent a lot of time sewing, knitting, and crocheting. She attended many sporting events for her kids, as well as her own bowling career which would last many years. She would marry Bill Hughes in 1991, and among working and traveling, they would spend time with their 6 grandchildren. Dee refined her skill to play piano and would use that hobby with her grandchildren to play 2 notes every 4th measure in "Little Drummer Boy" during Christmas. Bill's death came in 2013 at his home, which Dee made as intentionally comfortable for him as she could. Towards the end of her life, she spent her time at home with grandson Andrew (Kari) and great grandchildren (Stacia, Envy, Peyton and Maverik), where they cooked, baked, did puzzles, had birthday and holiday celebrations with family, and aimed to put more life in her days.
Dee is preceded in death by her parents Herb and Esther Muhlenbruck, Sister Ruth-Ann Starck (Bruce), Brother Darrell Muhlenbruck, Sister-in-Law Roni Muhlenbruck, Brother Ralph Muhlenbruck (Carole), and her husband Bill Hughes.
She is survived by a wealth of loving family. Tina Newton (Ray) of Boise City, Oklahoma, Mike Massey (Erin) of Wellington, CO, Grandchildren Andrew Massey (Kari), Kelsey Massey, Caleb Massey (Alayna), 4 Great Grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews. Dee also has her 2 Stepsons with 3 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren from her marriage with Bill.
Dee and her family would like to give a special thank you to Pathways Hospice and Viegut Funeral Home. The degree of love and care these amazing facilities have given to many members of this family will always have a resounding effect on us. A very special thank you to Pastor Mark Nierman from Mount Olive Lutheran Church. His efforts and love with his home visits brought comfort and solace during her last days. We are very grateful for the compassion and love from everyone in helping to transition into the final stages of life.