LELAND — Kathryn Susan Hughes, age 76 of Leland, NC, passed away at SECU Hospice House of Brunswick in Bolivia on January 2, 2026. She was born on July 15, 1949 in Waverly, OH to the late John R. and Cora Keechle.
Kathy was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Ronald Hughes, and her sister Melena Osborn. Kathy’s life was a testament to her loving family, including daughters Stacey Duke of Leland, NC and Susan Hughes of Carolina Beach, NC; grandchildren Jacob Duke (Megan Blevins) of Cleveland, NC and Allison Duke of Mooresville, NC; siblings William Keechle (Ann) of Washington Township, OH, Douglas Keechle (Charlene) of Waverly, OH, Laura Johns (Kenny) of Middletown, OH, Kerri McHenry of Cincinnati, OH, John D. Keechle (Tracy McGuire), of College Corner, OH, and numerous nieces, nephews, and beloved Sanders cousins, all of whom loved her dearly and will miss her greatly.
Kathy spent her early years in Waverly eventually moving to Dayton, OH where she met the love of her life, Ron, in high school. They moved to Goldsboro, NC in 1992 where she continued to touch lives and become an integral part of her community. In 2020, they moved to Leland, NC to be closer to their children.
Kathy had a life-long love of service, volunteering with Southeastern Medical Encology, the American Red Cross, Reach for Recovery, Race for the Cure, Manna Ministries, and Wayne Memorial Hospital where she served for nearly 20 years. Her belief in scouting was profound; she dedicated 30 years to the Girl Scouts, both in her youth and as an adult leader, passing the passion on to her daughters.
Creativity flowed through Kathy and she was a gifted artisan. She found joy in numerous crafts, even being recognized with several ribbons and awards for ceramics.
Faith was also an important part of Kathy’s life. She was baptized at Adamsville Baptist Church in Goldsboro and became a devout member of First Baptist Church of Leland.
A Memorial Service to honor Kathy’s life and legacy will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at First Baptist Church of Leland. Visitation will be held from 1:00-1:45pm, with the funeral service to follow at 2:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of Leland, SECU Hospice House of Brunswick, or the American Cancer Society.
Please leave memories and condolences for Kathy’s family here.
