Jerry Layne Hughes, age 76, of Amarillo, passed away on October 10, 2026, in Amarillo.

Viewing will be held on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, from 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM at Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 South Georgia in Amarillo. A memorial service to honor Jerry's life will be held at a later date.

Jerry was born on March 16, 1950, to Henry Albert and Allie Evelyn Arledge Hughes in Dorchester, OK. He attended Sulphur High School in Sulphur, Oklahoma. On May 4, 1979, he married Charlene Mesmer in Amarillo, beginning a lifetime of love, lasting the next forty-seven years. The couple made their home in Canadian, Texas, where Jerry worked in the oilfield from 1979 until 1984, when the family moved to Amarillo. Jerry was a dedicated and hardworking man who spent many years employed by Lake Steele before retiring in 2015.

Jerry was a man with a big heart, a playful spirit, and a genuine love for the people in his life. He was almost always happy, sometimes a little ornery, and never one to miss an opportunity to share a laugh or bring a smile to someone's face. Beneath that mischievous grin was a man who loved deeply and wholeheartedly. He was a constant presence in the lives of his family and friends.

Jerry enjoyed the simple pleasures in life, especially taking road trips and spending time fishing. Whether he was traveling down an open highway, casting a line into the water, or simply enjoying time with those he loved.

Above all, Jerry loved his family. His greatest joy came from being surrounded by those he held dear, and his love extended through the generations to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He leaves behind a lifetime of memories, countless smiles, and a family who will forever treasure the love, laughter, and happiness he brought into their lives.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Allie Hughes; two brothers, Bill Hughes and John Wayne Hughes; and two sisters, Betty and Judy.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Charlene Hughes; his daughters, Melissa Tinney and Tammy Word; his son, David Gilbreath and wife Sabrina; his ten grandchildren, Zadie, Tonia, Michelle, Michael, Tisha, Tanya, Brooke, Devan, David, and Amanda; and many great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.