Juanita Clara Hughes, 86, of Corpus Christi, Texas, passed away on Saturday, September 26, 2026.

Juanita was born on December 28, 1939, to Paul Wood Hughes and Maude Violet (Linthicum) Hughes. She spent the majority of her life in Corpus Christi, a place she called home for many years.

Juanita had a creative and adventurous spirit and found joy in many hobbies throughout her life. She loved dancing, especially the jitterbug, and enjoyed spending time outdoors camping, searching for arrowheads and interesting rocks, and visiting the beach to collect seashells. Her creativity was reflected in her love of ceramics and crafts of all kinds, with macramé holding a particularly special place among her favorite pastimes. Juanita will also be fondly remembered by her family and friends for her devotion to F.R.O.G. (“Forever Rely On God”) and for the fancy hats that became such a memorable part of her personality. Of the many jobs she held throughout her life, she especially enjoyed her time working at Southwestern Refinery.

Juanita was preceded in death by her parents, Paul Wood Hughes and Maude Violet (Linthicum) Hughes; her siblings, Paul Lincoln Hughes, William Bennet “Billie” Hughes, Daniel Byrd Hughes Sr., and Leon Dee Hughes; and her half-brother, Robert Wood Hughes.

She is survived by her son, Gelvase Joseph Anselmi and his wife, Carla Lynette Anselmi; granddaughters Jennifer Ashley Valle and Jessica Taylor McWilliams; son, Acton Joseph Anselmi Jr. and his wife, Glenna Carol Anselmi; grandson Aaron Casey Anselmi; great-granddaughters Casey Michelle Anselmi and Emily Jordan Anselmi; grandson Adam Matthew Anselmi; great-granddaughters Amanda Michelle Anselmi and Alleah Marie Anselmi; granddaughter Ashlei Jordan Anselmi Montgomery; great-grandson Jacob Allen Montgomery; daughter, Janelle Mary Dee Shur; granddaughter Sarah Beth Sonnier; great-grandson Anthony O’Neal Alexander, great-granddaughter Nevaeh Charlize Sonnier, and great-grandson Charles (Charlie) Darwin Sonnier III; son, James Edward Ensminger III; daughter, Brenda Merl Mitchell; grandson Christopher Ryan Mitchell; and great-granddaughters Elliana Rae Mitchell and Isla Camille Mitchell.

Juanita was cremated, and no services will be held. In accordance with her wishes, Juanita’s ashes will be divided, with half placed at her mother’s gravesite in Ruidoso, New Mexico, and the other half at her father’s gravesite in Wimberley, Texas.