Eula Belldavis Hughes

Eula Bell Davis Hughes, age 93, passed away Thursday, March 17, 2005, at the Good Samaritan Center in Olathe, where she had been a resident the past three years. Eula was born in Howard, KS, on March 9, 1912, to Mittie Vice Davis and Chester Davis. The family moved to Sherburn, KY, in late 1912. Following the death of her husband in 1916, Mittie Davis returned to Howard, KS, with her young daughters. The home that once housed the Davis family, bears Mittie Davis' name and is part of the Elk County Museum in Howard, KS, with a rural schoolhouse, machinery, and other interests of the early days in Elk County. She graduated from Howard School in 1930. In 1953, she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Emporia State Teachers College. Mrs. Hughes taught school a total of 45 years, 12 of which were in Elk County, two in Greenwood County, eight years in Olathe, and finished 23 years in Bonjour School in Shawnee Mission, retiring in 1977. In 1947, Eula married Harry Becket Hughes, and has been an Olathe resident since that time. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry in 1975; her father, mother and two sisters, Carrie Jane Davis and Stella Davis Gash. She is survived by cousins, Evelyn Davis France, Flemingsburg, KY, Frances Vice Graham, Olathe, Clifford Vice of Lenexa, Don Vice of Atlanta, GA; and a host of loving friends. Until her health failed, Eula was a member of the Shawnee Mission Indian Historical Society; the Johnson County Retired Teachers Association; the Olathe Republican Womens' Party; a volunteer at the Olathe Community Hospital; a member of the Grace United Methodist Church; and was a charter member of the Compassionate Care Legacy of the Olathe Medical Center. Interment will be at the Olathe Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that donations be made to the Olathe Medical Center Charitable Foundation for lifesaving defibrillators for patrol cars of the Olathe Police Department, or Olathe Hospice, 20333 West 151st Street, Olathe, KS.