Joseph Whitton Hughes, age 22, of Ferndale, died suddenly and unexpectedly in Lone Pine, California, of a severe and aggressive bacterial infection.
Joseph was born in Bellingham on Oct. 15, 1995, to Jim Hughes and Janise (Moody, Hughes) Rands. Joe was a 2014 graduate of Ferndale High School and at the time of his passing was in his fourth year at The Evergreen State College.
Joe loved all things in nature and especially hiking, rock climbing and surfing. He had diverse tastes in music and literature and expressed himself through his art and writing. He will be remembered for many things, but most of all as an amazing listener to his friends, an adventurous and creative soul to the universe and a loving, funny, compassionate and kind son, brother, nephew and cousin.
Joseph is survived by his parents Jim Hughes, Trish Bilskis, Janise and Jonathan Rands; his younger siblings: brother Glen Hughes and sister Alexandria Sinkula-Rands; also his grandparents Valerie and Paul Moody, James Early, Christina Rands and Bob Oberg; his aunts and uncles Carrie Moody, Kurt Wank, Mary and Tony Seger, Joann Hughes and Marie Bunce, Kathy and Scott Blixt, and Sean and Diana Hughes; and his cousins Dimitri Wank, William Blixt and Katie Grover and Kirsten Daykin and Stacy Seger.
A celebration of life will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at the family home, 3036 Aldergrove Rd., Ferndale. An official service will begin at 2 p.m., and food and drinks will be plentiful. Please join us in saying goodbye to Joe.
