Donald Hughes Obituary

Donald "Don" Hughes was born in Julesburg, Colorado to Avis (Marlatt) and Harold Hughes on September 20, 1952. He was the youngest of two children. He married the love of his life Constance "Connie" Hughes on August 2, 1975. Donnie and Connie were married for almost 46 years, when she passed in May of 2021.

Don grew up in the town of Julesburg, CO, and remained there until after he graduated when he felt the call of the mountains. He and Connie spent the better part of their youth moving around Summit County, from Frisco to Silverthorne and many a place in between, working in the summer so they could afford ski passes in the winter. An avid skier and self-anointed ski bum, Don spent most of his 20's on the slopes. During the summer he'd work odds and ends construction jobs, but given the weather, that type of work would wane during the winter months, where he would embrace all that the mountain had to offer. It wasn't until he was in his 30's that he really decided he needed more stable employment. In an effort to secure employment, and a true testament of the tenacity that enveloped Don's entire life, he met with a superintendent of a construction company, who informed him that they were not hiring. Rather than accepting that rather inconvenient fact, Don continued to return each and every day to the same job site, to talk to the same superintendent, until finally the employer realized he was either going to have to talk to this man every day or simply give him a job. This turned out to be a very important choice for Don, because about a year later, he and Connie would have their first child, Ashley, after nine (9) years of marriage. Then, as fate and luck would have it, only two years later they would have their second child, a son, named Shea. After nine (9) years of freedom and a carefree lifestyle, they began the role that they were always meant to have- the role of parents.

Don worked for what eventually became Hensel Phelps Construction Company for his entire construction career, over thirty years, starting as a foreman and working his way up through the company to become a Superintendent himself. Through this employment Don worked in numerous states, in addition to Colorado, which included Florida, Texas, Arizona, and Virginia, where he lived, and from where he was often sent to other locations, including Kentucky and Tennessee. When Don's children were little, he would often joke that they did not need to go on vacation, because if they waited 6 months they would simply be transferred to a new location for a new project.

Throughout his career, Don was a part of large, celebrated construction projects including the Eisenhower Tunnel, Denver International Airport, the Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C., and the last project he undertook before retirement was the repair and renovation of the Pentagon after 9/11. This is the job that took him to Virgina in 2003, where Donnie and Connie spent the remainder of his career before his retirement in 2014.

While on the east coast, Donnie and Connie spent a lot of their time touring the coastline. From seeing the leaves change in the northeast, to traveling to Cape May, and seeing the wild horses in Assateague Island, they spent many a weekend as empty-nesters on these little jaunts. If it involved a beach and you could drive there from Virginia, they likely spent at least some time there. And of course, they did get the chance to ski - in West Virginia.

Upon Don's retirement in 2014 from Hensel Phelps, Connie and Donnie returned to where it all began, Colorado, finding their last home in Castle Rock, where Don lived until he passed away on February 3, 2026. In Castle Rock, Donnie and Connie found a wonderful cul-de-sac of fantastic neighbors who worked together to coordinate Christmas decorations and light shows, neighborhood events, and in his later days, helped him with the daily tasks of independent living that just became too great for him.

But what Don seemed to love most, in addition to watching all things football, was spending time with his family and his exuberant grandkids. He was ever present in their young lives, traveling to see their basketball, soccer, volleyball, flag football, and softball games, or just being there to watch a show on his iPad, while they were snuggled up on the couch. Grandpa never missed witnessing at least one game, match, party or performance of whatever one of his four grandchildren were doing that year or season. There was never a grandchild's birthday that Grandpa wasn't there for.

Don is survived by his daughter Ashley (Vince) and his son Shea; along with four (4) grandchildren, Eleanor Ann, Vincent Donald, Mila Ann, and Yana Constance; and his crew of nieces and nephews. Don was preceded in death by his wife, Connie Hughes, both of his parents, Harold and Avis Hughes, his sister, Pamela Hughes, and his surrogate sister, cousin, Deanie Peterson. All of which Don, who was steadfast in his faith, will now be enjoying their company again.

Services for Don will be at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, located at 606 W. 3rd Street, Julesburg, Colorado 80737. The Rosary Service for Don will be Friday, February 13, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. with a viewing occurring for the family the hour prior. His funeral will be at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church on February 14, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. Internment will occur at a later date.

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