Mike Hughes

(From Countryside Funeral Home)

Michael “Mike” Wayne Hughes, 68, of rural Elk City, KS passed away on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at his home. Mike was born on April 26, 1955, in Wichita, KS the son of Wayne Herbert and Joan Madeline (Wadsworth) Hughes.

Mike graduated from Cleveland High School, Cleveland, OK in 1973, as a proud Cleveland Tiger. He attended NEO-A&M Junior College in Miami, OK on a football scholarship and the next year transferred to Ozark Christian College in Joplin, MO. Mike played basketball and baseball while attending there. He also held weekend ministries in Lee’s Summit and Irwin, MO while at OCC. He was in Athletes for Christ. He also went overseas to Taiwan as part of a traveling basketball team to do mission work.

Upon graduation from OCC, Mike’s first youth minister position was in Jacksonville, FL., at Mandarin Christian Church. Mike relocated to Kansas and married the love of his life, Cindy Ratzlaff. The couple married on June 14, 1980, in Fredonia, KS. Shortly after their marriage Mike accepted the position as youth minister at Countryside Christian Church in Wichita, KS. After serving there for more than 10 years, Mike was called to be the senior minister at the First Christian Church in Carthage, MO., where he served for 7 years. Mike then fulfilled a long-held dream to start a traveling rodeo ministry for the next 3 years which allowed him to combine his love of preaching God’s word and rodeo.

The Lord then led Mike to a senior ministry position at First Christian Church in Texhoma, OK., which he held for 10 years. Mike was then asked to assist with a new church starting in Fredonia, KS., which is now known as Cornerstone Christian Church. He had the privilege of serving this faithful congregation for 14 ½ years until his health no longer permitted.

Mike’s passion and prayer was always that the congregations he had served would continue to know Jesus and make Jesus known.

Including his wife Cindy, Mike is survived by:

Siblings:
Rita Hantsbarger of Orlando, FL
Philip Hughes and wife Julia of Cleveland, OK
Keri Laxton and husband Jimmie of Prague, OK
Pam McCleary of Blackwell, OK
Winema Hughes of Blackwell, OK

Mike was preceded in death by his parents and a sister Veronica Hughes Carlson.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at the Cornerstone Christian Church in Fredonia with Pastor Chris Hedges officiating, with burial to follow at White cemetery in rural Elk City. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, from 5-7 PM at Countryside Funeral Home in Fredonia. Memorials have been suggested to the Cornerstone Christian Church and may be left with or mailed to the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.countrysidefh.com. Services are under the direction of Countryside Funeral Home 420 S. 20th St., P.O. Box 247, Fredonia, KS 66736