Shirley Hughes, 69

Shirley Jo (Singleton) Hughes, 69, was born in Kalispell, on Sept. 21, 1954, to George Bruffy and Alice Margaret Singleton. She was raised by her father, George, whom she was devoted to until his death. Shirley passed away the morning of May 7, 2024, surround by her grandchildren and best friend, Jeni Williams; who made a surprise last minute visit from Seattle the day before. Shirley was cared for by daughter, LaSaundra Konshur and family friend, William “Billy” Sucharski, as hospice has been recently put in place due to stage 4 metastatic cancer which spread and consumed her body so quickly, though get spirits remained high and happy until her passing.  

She was born the day after her mother’s birthday and this was something that followed her throughout her life, oftentimes being told, “Happy Birthday,” one day early. Shirley was the youngest of George and Alice’s children, joining brother Steven Gerald Singleton (whom she idolized her entire life) and sisters, Sherry and Sandra Singleton. 

Shirley graduated from Flathead High School in 1972; she left the following day to Portland, Oregon, in hopes of building a connection with her mother, Alice and helping with her step-siblings while attending and completing beauty school. Shirley married Scott Hughes and later divorced. She always said she was married and divorced and then decided to have children. 

Despite having never grown up with a mother in the home but rather raised by her father, George; Shirley had two daughters whom she brought back to the Flathead Valley in 1992, from Renton, Washington. Shirley gave birth to LaSaundra Sue Villalobos in 1981 and Kristina Lynn Hughes, in 1985. She left the valley for 20 years and returned with her two daughters, to help and reside with her father, George, upon the passing of his wife, Agnes; she wanted to raise her daughters in Kalispell. Shirley always said she was a single mother who was raised by a single father; the bond between Shirley, LaSaundra and Kristina was a bond that was so strong, she often referred to the three as, “The Charmed Ones.” Throughout life, the three women often worked at the same places and were closer than most any mother-daughter relationships, as there were no secrets between the three and they were able to navigate the world and workplace together.  

Shirley earned her beautician license in Portland, Oregon, and later returned to school in Renton, Washington, where she earned certification as a legal assistant and worked for various law firms, as well as for the Attorney General in Seattle, Washington, child abuse division.  

Upon her return to the Flathead Valley, she worked for attorney’s at Hebberling, Sullivan and McGarvey and later worked for Alliance Title and Escrow (the first job where daughter, LaSaundra, worked alongside her starting after school at the age of 14).  

Shirley was a hard worker with a great sense of humor who went out of her way to get to know the people she worked with and around. She rarely forgot a name or a face and oftentimes had a gift for making that personal connection with everyone she met. She was a social butterfly which is why she decided to join LaSaundra at Moose’s Saloon; working on the weekends and nights at Moose’s went well with her personality. It is rare that family is able and willing to work at the same place; Kristina later joined her mother and sister, working alongside them at Moose’s Saloon. They really were the Charmed Ones and the three women thrived when they were together, both in and out of the work place. If you saw one of the women, it was likely you would soon see the other two shortly thereafter.  

After Moose’s Saloon, Shirley and her outgoing personality worked at Costco in Kalispell and later Buffalo Hill Golf course where she worked the past three years. She loved the people she worked with and loved working with the public and seeing familiar faces, as well as meeting new people, who became new friends. Shirley’s dry and sometimes dark or morbid sense of humor usually left people laughing or smiling when their paths crossed.  

Shirley had a way with words and a sense of humor that raised people’s spirits and left a long-lasting impact on those she loved. Shirley loved music; Shirley loved good music and had learned almost everything she could from her big brother Steve. Steve and Shirley had a brother-sister bond that amazed everyone they knew. They often lived with or near one another and took care of each other. Many people would have loved to have a big brother like Steve or have a little sister like Shirley as they always had each other’s backs and knew that, even in the darkest of times, everything would be okay. Shirley had returned to the family home in Sunrise Terrace and on numerous occasions, said it was the first time she had felt like she was Home, since the death of her daughter, Kristina, who passed away in 2014, only 8 months after the passing of LaSaundra’s 16 month old son “Charlie-Bear.” She was happy to finally be home, where she belonged, with her brother Steve, in the home built by their father, George Singleton.  

The cancer hit Shirley hard and took her life quickly; too quickly. She was in a lot of pain and did not want people to know how sick she was or the amount of pain she endured up until her death. Shirley loved her brother and did want him to watch her suffer and the last couple of months she went back and forth between Steve and LaSaundra’s home. Shirley decided hospice would be set up in LaSaundra’s home so she could spend as much time as she could with her three grandchildren. Upon Kristina’s death, LaSaundra became guardian of Izzabella Marie when she was 2 ½ years old; Akazia Cloud had a sister who helped fill the void left when her baby brother had passed away. The night Kristina passed, LaSaundra became pregnant with her son, Tristin Zephyr-Moon. LaSaundra and her children were the light of Shirley’s life and she spent her last weeks with the grandchildren who made Nana happy beyond belief. The time spent together will always be cherished and Nana got to have one on one time with her grandbabies which gave her peace and happiness until the day she left this world.  

She was preceded in death by both parents, George Singleton and Alice Shaw Winchester; sister, Susan Winchester; her first born grandson, Anthony “Charlie-Bear” Kuechmann; LaSaundra’s father, Manuel Philip Villalobos; and her daughter, Kristina Lynn Hughes.  

She is survived by her daughter, LaSaundra Sue Villalobos Konshur; grandchildren, Akazia Cloud Kuechmann, Izzabella Marie Hughes, and Tristin Zephyr-Moon Kuechmann; and loved grandsons, Lincoln and Judah Konshur, from LaSaundra’s previous marriage, all of Kalispell.

A celebration of life was held from 2 - 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, in Kalispell. Donations to help with final expenses can be sent to; LaSaundra Villalobos Konshur, 62 Willow Drive in Kalispell, MT 59901 or via paypal. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.