Hughes, 90 MILTON - Mary E. Hughes, 90, of Milton passed away on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014 at Harbor Healthcare in Lewes. Mary was a lifelong resident of Milton. She attended elementary school in a one room school house in Broadkill Beach and then graduated from Milton Consolidated High School. She met her husband Tom, who was from Baltimore, Maryland, during World War II when he was stationed in Sussex County, and they married in 1944 when he returned from overseas. In 1946, Tom and Mary established a newspaper in Milton called the Towncrier. The first edition of this weekly newspaper was a mimeographed sheet. They felt that every community should have a newspaper which could bring to its citizens all the local news vital to their locality. The newspaper covered all the events in town, and Tom and Mary wrote the stories, sold ads, and printed the newspaper themselves. They published the Towncrier until 1961 when it merged with another local newspaper where Tom worked as the editor and Mary worked in the office and wrote the local news. Tom and Mary's work with newspapers led to their active involvement with many local and state civic and community organizations, including Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Chamber of Commerce, Lion's Club, town government, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and The Milton Volunteer Fire Company, where both were life members. Retiring from the newspaper business in late 1964, Tom and Mary owned an insurance business until they retired again in 1979. Tom passed away in 1984. Mary then worked at a newly established bank, Delaware National, and retired again in 1989. After her retirement, she spent her time doing volunteer work, including working with the American Diabetes Association where she volunteered many hours in their office and with the Balloon Festival. She also volunteered with the Multiple Sclerosis Society, RSVP, and The American Cancer Society. She received The Governor's Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service in 1997. As a life member of the Milton Fire Company auxiliary and living next door to the fire house for over 65 years, Mary was very active with Station 85 fundraisers. Additionally, she often babysat for fireman so that the fire trucks and ambulances could get out to help others, and Mary was also an ambulance attendant for many years. She was recently inducted into the Delaware Volunteer Firefighter's Association Ladies Auxiliary Hall of Recognition. Mary is survived by her children, Patti Millman (Jesse), Dennis Hughes (Brenda), and Kristi Betts (Skip). She is also survived by grandchildren, Dawn Hopkins (Johnny), Shawn Croswell (Wendi), DJ Hughes (Alison), Wendi Walsh (Billy), Marybeth Peet (Steve), and Will Betts. She leaves nine great-grandchildren, Justin Hopkins (Alison), Izaak Hopkins, Caitlin Croswell, Huntley Walsh, Teagan Walsh, Dixie Walsh, Lelia Hughes, Daisy Hughes, and Annie Peet. She is also survived by a sister, Ruth Marvel; and a sister-in-law, Carolyn Reed. She was predeceased by her parents, Jim and Virgie Reed; and her brother, Charles Reed. Funeral Services will be held 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 26, 2014 in the chapel of Short Funeral Services, 416 Federal St., Milton, where friends may call 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014. Interment will be in Henlopen Memorial Park, Milton. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: Milton Vol. Fire Co., 116 Front St., Milton, DE 19968.