In Remembrance of Marla Ann Hughes

October 31, 1940 – June 25, 2018

Comfortable among foreign dignitaries or fellow den leaders of the Cub and Girl Scouts, Marla Ann Marx was born a daughter of Manistee on October 31, 1940, to Edward and Clarice (Johnson) Marx.   She grew up among us, playing clarinet at Manistee High School during the week, and barrel racing on horses during the weekend. After graduating from MHS in 1958, she studied at Muskegon Business School, and when she had earned a degree in airline services, she moved to Washington DC and then San Francisco to work at the FBI on projects that she never spoke about.

She returned to Manistee in her turquoise blue Austin Healy and married James Roy Hughes at Guardian Angels Church in 1965—a marriage that would surpass the golden anniversary test of 50 years. Motherhood began with the birth of Jon David Hughes in 1968, and her joy was furthered with Karin Anne Hughes's arrival in 1970. Marla tirelessly dedicated herself to Jon and Karin's upbringing, volunteering for every parent opportunity imaginable as well as creating endless meals with recipes that magically never produced the same outcome two times in a row (though always delicious).

Marla returned to serving her community when Jon and Karin were teenagers. Her roles including helping at Guardian Angels Church and working for the Manistee Economic Development Office, where she employed her Renaissance mind to teach herself how to design websites to create our town's digital appearance to the outside world.

"Grammie" timed her retirement from employment in nearly perfect harmony with the birth of her first two grandchildren in 2003, and as her six grandchildren were born in the mountains and both coasts of America, she was always there in their early days to welcome them to the world. She may have worn Disney clothes from the trips she would take with the grandchildren, but she lived to make her family feel as though home could be the Happiest Place on Earth. Marla is survived by her husband Jim, her sister Sue, her six grandchildren, and her daughter Karin and her son-in-law Brian (whose life she began influencing in the 5 ^th grade, while volunteering as a librarian at Manistee Catholic Central).

Cry with us as needed, but then smile for her life so well lived.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, August 17, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Manistee with Reverend Zeljko Guberovic celebrant. Burial of Marla's cremated remains will take place at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Manistee immediately following Mass.

The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass at 11:00 AM.

The Herbert Funeral Home of Manistee is in charge of funeral arrangements.