Beatrice "Bea" Evelyn Hughes

Beatrice “Bea” Evelyn Hughes, age 93 of Wellsville, Kansas passed away Friday, June 12, 2026 at the Wellsville Retirement Community. Funeral services will be 11AM, Saturday, June 20, 2026 at Wilson’s Funeral Home in Wellsville with visitation Friday evening from 6-8PM. Interment will follow services in the Wellsville Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wellsville Historical Society and Wellsville Health and Rehab in care of Wilson’s Funeral Home, PO Box 486, Wellsville, KS 66092.

Beatrice “Bea” Evelyn Hughes was born January 15, 1933 in Bowman, North Dakota, the daughter of Charles and Ida Pearl (Manning) Peterson. She grew up in Bowman and graduated from Bowman High School in 1951. While working at a local grocery  store in Bowman, she met a young man from Wellsville, Kansas who was visiting on a wheat-cutting trip. On December 22, 1954, she married Roger Alan Hughes at the Methodist Church in Bowman.  They were married 58 years before his passing in 2013.

Roger brought Bea home to Wellsville, Kansas where she farmed alongside her husband and raised her family. She was a wonderfully warm and beautiful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was known in her community for her signature bee-hive hairstyle, her red lipstick, her beautiful smile and her sweet corn; as well as her love for Halloween decorating and Christmas lights. She also operated Bea’s Tanning Salon out of her home on Main Street for many years and was the definition of a “farmer’s wife”. She was a founding member of the Wellsville Historical Society and proudly served as Wellsville’s Grand Marshall in 2022. Bea was an avid Chiefs, Royals and KU fan. She loved Wellsville Eagle sports and never missed an opportunity to attend her grandchildren’s activities. She cherished spending time with her sons, whether going out to eat or visiting the casino. A dedicated gardener, Bea loved tending to her flowers and was a skilled artist and crafter. While she was known for her embroidery projects, she was best known by her family for her delicious homemade Long Johns and hot chocolate.

Bea is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Ronald Hughes and Suzy Eckart of Edgerton; son and daughter-in-law, Clay and Candy Hughes of Wellsville; son and daughter-in-law, Darrel and Sherry Hughes of Wellsville; 9 grandchildren: Angie Lomax, Mandy Scholz (Jared), Holly Hao (Armstrong), Kimberly Burbank (Isaac), Carissa Erlacher (Danny), Amy Timken (Justin), and Dalton Hughes; step-grandchildren, Emily Hess (Zach), and Spencer Plush (Elle); 23 great-grandchildren, 3 great great-children, and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

Bea is preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Debra Ann (1971); 3 brothers: Okie, Rob and Orville; a twin brother, Bernard, who passed at birth; her husband, Roger; and a great-granddaughter, Bexley Hughes (2023).

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