Elaine Margaret Hughes

Aug 26, 1930 -

Jun 10, 2024

Elaine Margaret Hughes, 93, died on June 10, 2024, at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage, Alaska, with family at her side.

Elaine was born on Aug. 26, 1930, in Oakland, Calif. She studied pharmacology at the University of California - Berkeley and earned a degree in general studies and library science at Chabot College in Hayward, Calif. She moved to Eagle River, Alaska, in the early 1990s.

Throughout her life, Elaine worked to help others. She volunteered at hospitals, libraries, schools, the Chugiak Senior Center and several local arts organizations, drove cancer patients to their treatments and knitted hats for Newborns in Need.

She was an active community member and built a strong circle of friends during her decades in Alaska while maintaining ties to California. She was involved in the Eagle River Book Club, the Samba Sisters and bridge club. Elaine was skilled in fiber arts, including knitting and sewing, and enjoyed time outdoors gardening and birding.

She is survived by her daughter, Amy Smith of Hayward; son and daughter-in-law, Bruce and Martha Nelson of Eagle River; three granddaughters, Katie Millen (Fred Millen) of Eagle River, Laura Lee of Truckee, Calif., and Eva Nelson (Josh Manka) of Eden Prairie, Minn.; and five great-grandchildren, Natalie, Meredith, Frederick and David of Eagle River, and Owen of Truckee. She was preceded in death by her first husband, C. Victor Nelson; and second husband, Owen K. Hughes.

An open house will be held on July 2, 2024, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Nelson family residence. To RSVP and more information about the open house, please email elainehughes.openhouse@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Doctors Without Borders, donate.doctorswithoutborders.org; or Newborns in Need, P.O. Box 671683, Chugiak, AK 99567.