Ila May Hughes Blake

Our loving Mother, Queen of our world, Grandmother, and Grandma Great returned home to her Heavenly Father on Friday August 18, 2017.

 Ila May was born May 11, 1934 in Mt Trumbull, Arizona to Chester Marion and Genavieve Bundy.  She was one of 17 children.  Ila May is the third child of the 11 who lived to adulthood.  She grew up in Mt. Trumbull on the Arizona Strip with lots of siblings and cousins who laughed, worked, and had fun together. She attended school in the one room school house at Mt. Trumbull.   After Eighth grade she moved into St. George to finish her schooling.  The harsh and beautiful Arizona Strip shaped a woman like no other. 

Her love for her heritage was very apparent by her desire to spend as much time as she could in that sacred land, “out home”. She knew the value of hard work and taught many of her posterity how to mend a fence, tend a garden, and leave a place better than you found it.  She never let “the grass grow under her feet”. 

During her senior year in High School she met and married the love of her life Jimmie Hughes from Panguitch, Utah.  They were sealed in the St. George Temple on February 23, 1952.  Soon after their wedding he was deployed to Korea. When he returned they made their home in St. George Utah. Together they had 10 children and followed the construction jobs to Page, Arizona, Williams, Arizona and back to St George, Utah for Jimmie to work on the I-15 Freeway  in the Virgin River Gorge.

Ila May was no stranger to tragedy.  When she was pregnant with her 10th child her husband was the only casualty while working the Virgin River Gorge.  Left to raise 10 children plus her very loved native placement student from New Mexico, she taught them the value of work, service, and compassion to those in need.

After her husband Jimmie’s death she married Cecil Blake.  Together the herded the Hughes Bunch through the growing up years. They served a mission together in 1990 to the Philippines. Cecil passed away in April of 2016

She was a pillar of faith, service, work, and strength to all who knew her. She is survived by 10 children, 50 grandchildren, and cattle truckloads of great grandchildren.  She is an amazing woman who touched many lives and will continue watching over her posterity from the other side of the veil. Her greatest desire is for her family to know the truthfulness and blessings of the Restored Gospel.  

She is survived by her 10 children Janice  (John) Hummel, Denice (Becky) Hughes, Stacey (Kacey) Hughes, Arlin (Rozell) Hughes, Aprilee Hughes,  Tarrell (Kimberly) Hughes, Ilona (Dan)  Ence,  Ivona (Duane) Magoon,  Marsha (Tracy) Peek, Jimmie  (Tawny) Hughes, and Stella (Dave) Wahlquist.  She is preceded in death by her parents, her spouse, a grandson, and 9 Siblings

Funeral services will be held Monday August 21st, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. in the St George East Stake Center across from the Temple. A viewing will be held prior to the services from 9:30 to 10:45.  There will be a visitation on Sunday, August 20, 2017 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Hughes Mortuary, 1037 East 700 South, St George, Utah. (435) 674-5000. Please visit www.hughesmortuary.com for complete funeral listings and to leave condolences.

We love you mother!  Thank you for showing us an example of faith, determination and Love.  Until we meet again!