Funeral Services For Former Gov. Harry Hughes, 92, Of Denton

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Funeral services for former Gov. Harry Hughes, who died March 13 at the age of 92, will be held March 21 in Annapolis. The two-term Democratic governor served from 1979 to 1987. All state flags will fly at half-staff until sunset of the day of interment.

The public can pay their respects at Moore Funeral Home in Denton from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. today, March 20. The funeral service will be at noon Thursday at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church at 199 Duke of Gloucester St. in Annapolis. His interment will be private.

Memorials may be made to:

Hughes Agro-Ecology Center
P.O. Box 169, Queenstown MD 21658

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy
114 Washington Street, Easton MD 21601

Online condolences may be made at the funeral home's website: moorefuneralhomepa.com.

Hughes' obituary:

Governor Harry Roe Hughes of Denton, MD passed away on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at his home. He was 92 years old.

Governor Hughes was born on November 13, 1926 and was the son of the late Jonathan Longfellow Hughes and Helen Roe Hughes. His beloved wife of 60 years, Patricia Donoho Hughes, passed away on January 20, 2010 after suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

Governor Hughes grew up in Denton and graduated from Caroline High School in 1943. His passion was baseball and he had been signed as a pitcher for a Yankee farm team in his twenties. During WWII, he joined the Naval Air Corps and after the war ended he enrolled at the University of MD and subsequently graduated from the George Washington University Law School. After graduation, he and his wife, Pat, moved to Denton where he practiced law.

In 1954, Governor Hughes was elected to the MD House of Delegates and was elected to the MD Senate in 1958 where he served until 1970, eventually becoming its Majority Floor Leader. In 1971, he was appointed Maryland’s first Secretary of Transportation. He eventually ran for the office of governor and was inaugurated governor in 1979.

After two successful terms as governor, Governor Hughes returned to the practice of law in Baltimore at the law firm of Patton Boggs and Blow. He later retired and returned to the Eastern Shore and chaired the Harry R. Hughes Agro-Ecology Center and served as a member of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and other entities concerned with preserving the environment.

In the ensuing years, Governor Hughes wrote his autobiography, My Unexpected Journey, and took care of his beloved wife, Pat, to whom he attributed his success.

Governor Hughes is survived by two daughters: Ann Fink and son-in-law (Michael) and Elizabeth R. Hughes and her partner (Terrie); a grandson, Andrew; and many nieces, nephews, and great grandchildren. In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Jonathan Hughes.

The family thanks those caregivers who cared for him enthusiastically and with true compassion later in his life. The family gives a special thanks to Cindy Sharer, Governor and Mrs. Hughes’ long-time personal assistant whose organizational skills, persistence, and good humor helped Governor Hughes live a full life until his death.