Iona Mae (Whitman) Hughes

Iona Mae Whitman Hughes, 88 of Destin, Florida, passed away on July 16th in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Born on January 12, 1931, in Odessa, Florida, Iona was the daughter of the late Jonah Whitman and Lela Raulerson Whitman of Webster, Florida. 

Iona was a native of Florida. She was a Color Me Beautiful Analyst and a wardrobe specialist. Iona retired from JC. Penny in Gainesville. She also lived in Webster, Center Hill, and Tampa before residing in Destin and The Villages. Iona loved gardening and interior decoration.

Iona is survived by her companion, Paul Shadle; her children, Kathy Smith Villareal and Kenny M. Smith, both of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida; her grandchildren, Tim K. Villareal and wife Denise of Freeport, Florida, Tiffany Smith Santos and husband, Albert of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; greatgrandchildren, Amanda Villareal McWaters, Jeremy D. Villareal, Alivia K. Villareal, 1st Lt. Louie Frank Wilkerson IV USAF-CSO, and Ariana Santos; great-great grandchildren, Alania R. and Jack D. McWaters; siblings, Mary Hewitt Travali of Inverness, Florida, Dan Whitman of Webster, Florida, and MacArthur Whitman of Orlando, Florida; and daughter-in law, Nancy Smith of Ocala, Florida. Iona was predeceased in death by spouses, Montra Smith, Frank G. Hunter and Thomas Hughes; one son, Montie Don Smith, of Simpsonville, South Carolina; her sisters, Emma Newsome, Marcelle Dunne and Jeanette Story, all from Webster, Florida; and son-in-law John W. Villareal Jr. of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Iona will be forever loved and deeply missed by family and friends. Arrangements for cremation have been by Davis Watkins. At her request, no funeral services will be held. Please feel free to sign Iona’s guestbook at www.daviswatkins.com and share your memories and condolences.