Leona Marie Hughes, 88, of Arthur, died at 8:15 PM Friday, March 11, 2016 at the Arthur Home.

Memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at the Arthur United Methodist Church with Rev. Bruce Weiman officiating. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 PM on Friday, March 18, 2016 at Shrader Funeral Home, 431 S. Vine Street, Arthur. Burial will be in the Zion Church Cemetery, rural Arthur.

Leona was born March 17, 1927 in Tuscola, the daughter of Clause Henry and Anna Ernst Schultz.

She is survived by her daughter, Deborah (Charles) Kluge of Charleston. She was preceded in death by 4 brothers; 3 sisters.

Leona graduated from Arthur High School in 1945 and moved to Chicago where she worked for The Federal Reserve Bank. She met and married Robert Hughes and gave birth to her daughter. Leona returned to Arthur in 1956 and worked for the Arthur Graphic Newspaper shortly and then worked at Progress Industries, Inc. for 7 years. She was recruited to serve as the Administrator at the Arthur Home in 1964 and retired from that position in 1995. Leona was a member of the Arthur United Methodist Church, Arthur Business and Professional Woman's Club, and served on the Moultrie-Douglas County Fair Board. She was a member and officer of the Illinois and National Nursing Home Associations.

After her mother died, Leona accepted the role of the Schultz family matriarch, keeping family records, and organizing the Annual Schultz Family Reunion. Throughout the years, she was a caregiver for many family members. She also loved to read, play cards, and travel. Leona was a traveling companion of Emma and Elsie Eberhardt; she loved to plan the itineraries for their travels.

Memorials are suggested to the Arthur Home, 423 Eberhardt Drive, Arthur, IL 61911.

Online condolences to the family may be sent to www.hilligossshraderfh.com.