Clain Hughes

Biography

Clain Robinson Hughes was born January 18, 1925 in Billings, MT to Eunice and Daniel Hughes. He passed away July 16, 2011 in Idaho Falls, ID after a year of declining health. Clain was fortunate to have been born with red hair and so was known as “Red” to family and friends. His sisters however called him “Pinky” because his bright red hair at some point had faded to a light pink shade. Because of this, he was fondly known as “Grandpa Pinky” to his grandkids and great-grandkids. Red attended school in Billings, MT until the out break of WWII. He quit school and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at the tender age of seventeen. His fellow Marines dubbed him “the kid” due to his youth. This nickname stayed with him throughout his tour of duty. After basic training at Camp Pendleton, Red served in the wing corps of the Marines. He was an airplane mechanic by trade. Red returned to Billings in 1947 where he met and married his wife of 63 years, Marcia Dober on January 24, 1948. Red and Marcia had three children: Harry Edward, Linda Marie, and Mark Jay Hughes. It was probably his work during the Second World War that led Red to become a pipe fitter at Carter Oil in Billings. He worked in this capacity for eleven years before purchasing a hardware store in Edgemont, SD. Red was not opposed to hard work and spent every day at the store. He later purchased a hardware store in Malta, MT and again worked diligently. He did however, take time off to watch his children participate in high school sporting activities. While in Malta, he was active in Masons and he and Marcia bowled in league play. In the early 1970’s, Red and Marcia moved to Butte, MT where Red once again returned to his roots and worked as a plumber at Walsh Plumbing and Gribbon’s Plumbing and Heating. While in Butte, Red was active in the local Elks Lodge, where he was a member of the Drum and Bugle Corps. He could be seen marching, playing his snare drum in many a parade. Red and Marcia were active grandparents attending many sporting activities of their grandchildren. It was during their stay in Butte that Red taught his grandchildren the love of fishing. They all were able to experience “camping and fishing” with Grandpa Pinky. When Marcia retired, they moved south to avoid the Montana winters. At first they were “snowbirds” returning to Bozeman, MT in the summers, but eventually settled in Parker, AZ. When Marcia’s health began to decline in 2008, they returned north to be closer to family. They settled in Idaho Falls, ID in an assisted living facility. Red was preceded in death by his parents, and his older brother, Delmar. Marcia, his wife of 63 years, also preceded him in death by two weeks. Red is survived by sisters, Ila Gallardo of McIntosh, NM; Iris (Toots) Bacolini of Palo Alto, CA; Virginia Sims of Hayward, CA; and Elzada Lee of Arroyo Grande, CA; half brother Robert Zurawski of Yucca, AZ; and half sister Rose Jones of Spokane, WA; children, Harry (Patty) Hughes of Thermopolis, WY; Linda (Terry Evans) Perlinski of Bozeman, MT; and Mark Hughes of Idaho Falls, ID; grandchildren, Anna (Barry Malmburg) Hughes of Philomath, OR; Jamey (Kylie) Perlinskiof Bozeman, MT; Trisha Hughes of Seattle, WA; Jeremy (Heather) Perlinski of Helena, MT; Jessica (Ian Murren) Perlinski of Stamford, CT; Justin (Verity) Hughesof Moscow, ID; Paul (Erin Linley) Hughes of Atlanta, GA; and Tom Hughes of Moscow, ID; great-grandchildren, Kole and Kody Larsen, Axel Malmburg, Austin and Riley Perlinski, and Cater and Brady Perlinski.

Memorial Services -- Saturday

Saturday July 23, 2011 , 11:00 a.m. at Wood Funeral Home

The family will visit with friends for one hour prior to services.