Horace Phillips Hughey, Jr.

Horace Phillips Hughey, Jr., 91, a native of Asheville, NC, and Buncombe Co., died Sunday, June 17, 2012 in a nursing home in Staunton, VA. He was the son of Horace P. Hughey, Sr. and Velva McCain Hughey, who ran Hughey's Market on College Street in Asheville, NC, in the first half of the 20th century. He grew up in the family business and learned the butcher trade from his father. In 1943, he married Marguerite Weaver, his high school sweetheart, and they celebrated 60 years of married life before her death in 2004. Mr. Hughey, a 1938 graduate of Lee Edwards High School, Asheville, joined the U.S. Navy shortly after graduation. He served in the Atlantic & Pacific theaters of World War II, achieving the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He left the Navy to help in his ailing father's business, but remained in the Naval Reserve, and was recalled to active duty during the Korean War. He retired from the Naval Reserve in 1981. He joined Swift and Company in 1945, rising from meat-cutter to salesman to plant manager and retired in 1983, having been transferred to Raleigh, Kannapolis, and back to Asheville. He and Mrs. Hughey were life-long members of Haywood Street United Methodist Church. He was an avid golfer and a member of the Masons. He is survived by a sister, Mrs. Katherine Hughey Schoettger of Orlando, FL; two sons and their families, Mr. & Mrs. Michael Hughey of Arden, NC, Mr. Patrick Hughey of Staunton, VA; three grandchildren: Dr. & Mrs. Matthew Hughey of Starkville, MS, Ms. Erin Hughey-Commers of Charlottesville, VA, and Mr. Noah Hughey-Commers of Faber, VA. Family visitation will be at Groce Funeral Home, 72 Long Shoals Rd., Arden, NC on Tuesday, June 19, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. A graveside service will be held at Green Hills Cemetery in West Asheville at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20. The family requests that in lieu of flowers contributions be made to the Alzheimer's Association.