Roger Dale Hughes Sr

Roger Dale Hughes, Sr., U.S. Army, Master Sergeant Retired of Sierra Vista, Arizona passed away unexpectedly on December 3, 2025. He was born in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, on April 2, 1947, to Vance and Bernice Hughes. He would tell you that Spruce Pine was a place that was blessed by God and the ideal place to grow up. He was the oldest of three brothers and was quite the baseball player (at least according to him).

In 1964 at the ripe age of 17, Roger and a good friend decided it would be more exciting to join the Army instead of finishing High School. As fate would have it, the Army kept Roger and sent his friend back home! That was the beginning of Roger's 22-year career serving his country. He was stationed in places such as South Korea, Germany, Turkey, Washington DC, Fort Richie MD, and finished his career at Fort Huachuca, AZ. Along the way he earned a GED and took some college courses, even though he really wasn't the most avid student!

During his early Army career, he met and married his first wife, Cheryl, with whom he had five children; Melissa (who unfortunately died at the Age of 2), twins Roger Jr. and Richard, Daniel, and Kimberly. Roger and Cheryl parted ways in 1978.

While stationed in Germany the second time, he met a feisty Navy Petty Officer, Dawn Heerschap. They were married in 1981. To get married while in Germany, they had to also get legally married in the country. So, Roger double married Dawn on May 15. First by the Mayor of Vaihingen, Germany in the City Hall and the on May 16 in the Patch Barracks Chapel. From that beginning, they loved, lived, laughed, and fussed at each other, and performed the "Dawn and Roger" show for almost 45 years.

In 1982, Roger was transferred to Fort Huachuca and worked as a New Equipment Trainer until he retired from the Army in 1986. He was extremely proud to serve his country. To the day he left us, whenever anyone thanked him for his service; he would reply that he wished he could do it again. It was his chosen life.

His daughter, Amber, arrived in 1987 and was his "spoiled" tag-along buddy. When she was a baby, he would balance her in his hand and throw her up in the air (much to the consternation of people who didn't know him or that she loved it!).

After a short stint as a dispatcher with the Sierra Vista, AZ police department, Roger was hired in 1987 as a Department of the Army Civilian (DAC). He worked on Fort Huachuca with Information Systems Engineering Command for 25 years, primarily running a Contracting Officer's Representatives Office. He mentored and led a group of DACs, some of which affectionally called him "Papa" for his leadership style.

Roger retired from Civil Service in 2012. In retirement, Roger and Dawn traveled around the country visiting family, friends, and touring Europe. He tried to go to any National Park in the area (and would just happen to drop to other visitors that his daughter, Amber, worked for the U.S. Parks Service.) Some years they traveled more than they were home. But above and beyond, his favorite place to visit was going "back home" to North Carolina. When he was home in Arizona, he would catch up on the old black and white war movies, Westerns, The Andy Griffith Show, and all of his favorite 60's TV shows he was obsessed with.

Roger was preceded in death by: Father Vance; Mother Bernice; mother-in-law Edith; brother Larry; daughter Melissa; and first wife Cheryl.
Roger is survived by: Wife Dawn Heerschap Hughes; second mother Kathleen and her Children of Spruce Pine; Brother Jerry and his wife Sandra of Sumter, SC; Sister-in-Law Kim; Children Roger, Jr. (Judita) of Parker, CO; Richard (Carrie) of Grapevine, TX; Daniel (Francine) of Riverside, CA; Kim (Roger) Joiner of Pell City, AL; and Amber (Jesse) DeCoteau of Loveland, CO. Grandchildren – Gabriella (Chris) Robinson; Daniel Jr. (Hailee); Madeline; Mallory; Connor (Katie); Noah (Berlin); Josef (Brittany); Breanna Smith; and Amber (Faith) Joiner. Great grandchildren Isaiah and Layna; Dawn's brother and sisters; and Roger's cousins.

Roger loved his family and was extremely proud of his Navy Wife and his Army, Air Force, and Marine sons who all answered the call to the service of our country. He may have left this world and is deeply missed; remember as long as we keep his memory alive with Roger stories, he will never truly be gone!
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to a military Servicemember or a Veteran support organization.

A Celebration of Life/Military will be held on 3 April 2026 at the Chapel in the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Sierra Vista. Anyone wishing to attend should be at the Cemetery Staging Area at 1140. His remains will be brought "home" to North Carolina in October 2026.

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