Kevin McHugh
1950-12-06 2023-07-26Kevin James McHugh, 72, lost his lengthy battle with cancer and peacefully took his last breath at Veterans Memorial Hospital with his loving children by his side on July 26, 2023.
Kevin was the fourth of eight children born to Virgil Elmer McHugh and Mary Caroline McHugh (nee Brunot) on December 6th, 1950 at Firmin Desloge Hospital, St. Louis, MO.
Kevin attended Corpus Christi grade school in St. Louis, MO. He left high school to enlist in the US Navy, earned his diploma while serving, and was honorably discharged in '71. He was a lifelong, proud member of the Rathole Family where he excelled in his fishing and poker skills. He was always quick with a joke, words of wisdom and a steadfast shoulder to lean on. For many years he managed the Library Lounge bar in Jefferson City, and was every patron's favorite bartender at the Howdy Club in Fulton, and the SOB (Steedman's Only Bar) in Steedman. He will be affectionately remembered as an avid and loyal Cardinals fan, impassioned angler, and most importantly a devoted and loving father, grandfather, and brother.
Kevin is predeceased by his parents, sister Patricia Michelle Hahn (Arthur) of St. Charles, MO, and brother Charles Joseph McHugh of Nevada, MO. He is survived by his daughter, Danielle Sarah Lawson (Sean) of Columbia, MO, his son Jared August McHugh (Jennifer) of Springfield, MO, brothers Hilary Jay McHugh of Fulton, MO, and Michael John McHugh (Tina) of Alsey, IL, sisters Kathleen Caroline McHugh (Mariann Felcyn) of Folsom, CA, Mary Evelyn McHugh (Robert Mailman) of Vista, CA, and Jennifer Jean Kuhlman (Steve Pape) of Desoto, MO, and sister-in-law Connie McHugh of Nevada, MO. Kevin leaves behind seven grandchildren; Ash Martin-McHugh, Maverick McHugh, Orion Lawson, Silas Lawson, Miles Lawson, Seanix Lawson and Kylea Lawson. He also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews, and countless friends.
Services for Kevin will be held at 2:15 pm on August 18, 2023 at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, 2900 West Sheridan Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63125. A celebration of life will be held the following day from 12-4 pm at Jefferson Memorial VFW Post 3777, 900 VFW drive, Festus, Missouri 63028.
In lieu of flowers, his family has asked that you keep his memory alive by planting a tree in his honor.
Like my friend, Mike Cimicata, I hung out with a group that included Kevin, aka "Sugar Bear". And again, I second poker and beer drinking. I once challenged him to a one-on-one beer drinking contest out on a river sandbar near the old Chain Of Rocks bridge. It was a contest in which I finished a distant 2nd. I also lost touch with Kevin after I moved away from Missouri. I saw him a time or two before moving when he was running a pub called "Millard Fillmore" in South St Louis - if memory serves. Fondly remember a group of us playing bottle caps ball in the empty lot next door. RIP Kevin.
tribute by Lee BridgesI hung around with Kevin during high school years and he was always a great person to know. He was happy all the time and had a great laugh and we played poker and drank beer together often. Our friend John Riggle kept in touch with Kevin and he kept me informed how he was doing. I only got to visit with Kevin once about ten years after high school, which was a great time catching up. He was still the same. He had that great laugh and always smiling. Even though it has been a very long time since I had seen him, I thought of him and all the good times we had playing poker. He will be missed.
tribute by Michael Cimicata