Sandra "Sandy" Elaine Hughes

Obituary for Sandy Hughes

Sandy Hughes, of Castle Rock, CO entered into eternal life on November 13th, 2024 with family by her side. Sandra Elaine Schilling was born on February 22, 1949 in Lubbock, Texas.  (No need to do math.  She was 23 years old.  In fact, she and her family celebrated her 23rd birthday every year.) She was the fourth of thirteen children born to Lawrence Henry (L.H.) and Erma Lee (Heinrich) Schilling. The family lived near Lubbock and Slaton, Texas before moving to Friona, Texas in 1959, where her parents farmed. 

Sandy graduated from Friona High School in 1966. She then attended West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas where she completed a B.S. in Mathematics and a second major in secondary education.  She also met and married her first husband, Ralph Kuehn.  After graduation, Sandy taught math classes ranging from math for Special Needs to Calculus for ten years.  More importantly, during this time she gave birth to three amazing children: Cubby (Sabrina Claire Beard of Draper, Utah), Mick (Michael Paul Kuehn of South Carolina) and Pax (Peter Alexander Kuehn of Denver).

In 1981 Sandy completed a Master’s degree in Business Computer Information Systems.  She began a career designing and implementing mainframe and data base systems for large corporations including ARCO, TSYS, Oppenheimer and Janus.  She developed a training program for new programmer/analysts that was recognized and awarded by the state of Georgia.  Additionally, she coded and provided training in over 20 programming languages. She eventually retired from VISA in 2014 while managing several prepaid debit card implementation programs for millions of accounts.

In 1997, Sandy met and later married (2004) Clarence Hughes.  She also gained two more amazing children: Meridith Leigh (Hughes) Lowe of Vail and Geoffrey Tyler Hughes of Highlands Ranch, CO. 

In 2014, Sandy retired to enjoy spending time with Clarence, their five children and twelve grandchildren. Together they had many adventures. Traveling, Europe, Destin, Florida and enjoying the beauty of Colorado and New Mexico were some of the favorites. Entertaining and visiting family and friends was always a priority. She was a most gracious hostess who was famous for her terrific cherry pies.

She loved to volunteer, sew, read, do puzzles and garden (a bit).  She volunteered with the Douglas County Sherrif’s Office doing research in financial crimes and taught GED classes in the jail.  She was a regular volunteer at the Neighbor Network in Castle Rock providing transportation for many in need. Always a teacher, many learned sewing skills from her free classes to all who had an interest.  Her patience, creativity, lifetime of giving and her loving touch as well as endless generosity will be missed by all and envied by those who had the honor of knowing her.

The family will host a celebration of life to be announced, for all who knew her.  In lieu of flowers, please contribute to your charity of choice in lieu of flowers.

I’m Free

Don’t grieve for me for now I’m free

I’m following the path God laid for me.

I took his hand when I heard him call

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day

To laugh, to love, to work or play

Tasks left undone must stay that way.

I found that peace at the close of the day.

If my parting has left a void

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss

Ah yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow.

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life’s been full.  I’ve savored much:

Good friends, good times and loved ones’ touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief

Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your ears and share with me.

God wanted me now.  He set me free.

-unknown