Hughie "Hugh" Don Sheffield was born on November 6, 1928 in Frederick, Oklahoma to Lucille Leola Bailey Sheffield and Alton Brooks Sheffield. He had a brother, Alton Brooks Jr and 2 sisters, La Juana Jean and Rosalind Jurhee. He married Marilyn Spencer in Paso, CA on April 18, 1953 and they shared their adventure for 69 years and she survives of the home.

Hugh was raised in Oklahoma and Texas.  During the Dust Bowl, his family moved to California.  He graduated from Roosevelt High School in Fresno, CA at the age of 17. Upon graduation, he joined the US Navy with the desire to be a pilot. Under a special program, the Navy sent him to college for 2 years at the University of Texas and then gave him orders to flight school as an officer.

Hugh was on active duty during three wars – WW II, Korea and Vietnam.  During his career with the Navy, he earned his wings as an Aviator, served in the Korean War and then was transferred to Hawaii.  In Hawaii he met and soon married Marilyn Louise Spencer.

Hugh was assigned to the Pentagon on the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Cuban Missile Crisis and then he went to the Naval Postgraduate School where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering.  In Vietnam he was assigned to General Westmoreland's Staff.  From there he was transferred to Atsugi, Japan and then Brunswick, GA.  After 25 years of service to the US Navy, Hugh retired in 1970. The family returned to California, which was considered "home."

Hugh then felt called to the ministry and enrolled at the Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, CA.  He graduated with his Masters of Religious Education.  He served several churches in California before becoming Senior Pastor.  Hugh retired at the end of 1992 after 15 years of ministry.

Eventually, Hugh and Marilyn made a big move to South Dakota and in 2012 settled in St. Joseph, MO.

Survivors include Hugh's wife, Marylin; daughters, Debora (Mark) Conyers of St. Joseph and Cheryl (Tim) Gilley of Eau Claire, WI; son, Kim (Sue) Sheffield of San Jose, CA; grandchildren, Seth Conyers, Joel Conyers, Nathan Gilley, Rebekah Chamberlain, Andrew Sheffield, and Joseph Sheffield; eighteen great-grandchildren with number nineteen due to arrive in July.  He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Alton Sheffield; two sisters, Jean Adams and Jurhee Philpot.

Funeral services will be 11:00am, Monday, May 9 ^th , 2022 at First Baptist Church in Savannah, MO.  Visitation and family receiving hour will be 10:00am - 11:00am, Monday, May 9 ^th , 2022 at First Baptist Church.  Memorial contributions can be made to Wounded Warrior in Action. https://wwiaf.org/ Breit-Hawkins Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.