DeWayne Hughes

Owner, Funeral Director and Embalmer, CFSP, CPC, CCO

DeWayne Hughes is a 3^rd generation Funeral Director and Embalmer with over 35 years of funeral and business experience, is a native Dallasite and grew up in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas. He later moved to the North Dallas area, where he attended high school at Thomas Jefferson.

Following high school, he attended Dallas Institute of Funeral Service and is a member of the honor mortuary fraternity, Pi Sigma Eta. DeWayne holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and has also completed the certificate program in Entrepreneurship from SMU Cox Caruth Institute.

DeWayne is a licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer, a certified Crematory Operator, and is registered with the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. DeWayne is an active member of several local, state, and national professional organizations. 

DeWayne’s true gift and passion is restoration.  DeWayne understands the need to say goodbye to a loved one and has taken countless trainings in restorative arts. He had taken advanced classes that only a select few international take each year.  He was recently awarded the Distinguished Professional Service Award from the Fountain National Academy of Professional Embalming Skills. Especially when a death is tragic or unexpected, the ability to view your loved one and say goodbye is so very healing. 

DeWayne has always been active in his community, especially with organizations that serve children. As a young man out of college and a licensed pilot, he served as President of the Hella Shrine, Flying Fez Unit, where he co-piloted one of the last flights transporting blood to the Galveston Shrine Hospital. He served on the board of Lakemont Academy and has been a clinical instructor for Dallas Institute of Funeral Service.

DeWayne served as “cookie mom” for his daughter’s Girl Scout troop and is a past Scoutmaster, Crew Advisor, and currently the OA Chapter Advisor for the Blackland Prairie District of the Boy Scouts of America; he is a District Award of Merit recipient and a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow. DeWayne is a licensed amateur radio operator, KE5DH0, and has served as an American Red Cross volunteer since 1978, serving as an Instructor in Water Safety, First Aid, CPR, and Wilderness First Aid.

DeWayne enjoys traveling with his wife, watching the Dallas Stars and being with his family.

Stephanie Hughes

Owner, Funeral Director, Certified Crematory Operator, and CPC

Stephanie is a licensed funeral director at Hughes Family Tribute Center. Stephanie was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She graduated from W.T. White High School in 1981. Stephanie comes from a long line of Aggies and received her undergraduate degree in accounting from Texas A&M University in 1985. She then graduated from SMU School of Law in 1988 and was on the Southwestern Law Journal (now the SMU Law Journal).

Stephanie started her career at Corporate & Securities section of the law firm of Gardere & Wynne (now Foley & Lardner LLP) and then Senior Vice President and General Counsel of a publicly traded company in Dallas for 14 years. Although Stephanie enjoyed the practice of law, a career in the funeral industry was truly her calling. After assisting her husband at the funeral home for over a year, Stephanie attended Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. Stephanie is a member of the honor mortuary fraternity, Pi Sigma Eta.  

Stephanie is passionate about helping families say goodbye to loved ones is a special, unique and healing way. She is truly gifted in talking with families and putting them at ease. Stephanie strongly believes that a Life Celebration is one of the most healing things a family can do to honor a loved one. Families praise her attention to detail and her kind spirit. Stephanie knows how to make people feel comfortable as she gathers stories, memories, and passions of loved ones. She has a heart for families and their grief journey.

Stephanie has always been active in her church, children’s schools, and community. When she isn’t at work, you might find her with her husband, DeWayne, cheering on the Dallas Stars. Stephanie loves being with her family and traveling around the country with DeWayne.

Ryan D. Hughes

Funeral Director, CFSP, CPC

Ryan is a 4^th generation funeral director at Hughes Family Tribute Center.  He was born and raised in Dallas. Ryan quite literally grew up in funeral service—he lived in an apartment within a funeral home for six years as he went to middle school and part of high school. He went to high school at Richland Collegiate High School and graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship.  He was a member of the Baptist Student Ministries (BSM) at the University of North Texas where he met his wife, Kristine. He attended the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service and is a member of the honorary funeral service fraternity, Pi Sigma Eta, where he served as the President of the Epsilon Chapter. 

Ryan is great at being a calm and collected presence when meeting with families who have lost a loved one. He has a natural knack for problem solving which comes in handy when he helps families decide how to best create a beautiful and honoring service. He serves just about every family in the funeral home in one way or another whether it is by leading their funeral service, setting up media like videos or songs, or driving vehicles in procession. He is an integral part of each service and has helped so many families in front of and behind the scenes.

Ryan is a true family-man. Not only does he work with his family, but his greatest joy is spending time with his wife, Kristine, and his two young children. Other than his family, Ryan’s other great passions is his faith, traveling to new places, listening to music, and reading books, especially Agatha Christie novels.

Kristine L. Hughes

Funeral Director

Kristine L. Hughes is a funeral director at Hughes Family Tribute Center. She grew up in the Denton area for most of her life. She graduated from high school in the small town of Pilot Point where she then enrolled within the University of North Texas.  Kristine graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature. She was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. During her time at the university, she joined the Baptist Student Ministry where she met her husband, Ryan.  Kristine attended the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service and is a member of the honor mortuary fraternity, Pi Sigma Eta.  They both work for the funeral home together.  Kristine is the artist in the group.  She writes beautiful life stories and sets up amazing Life Celebrations.

Kristine is a Certified Funeral Celebrant.

Kristine is passionate about writing and enjoys watching movies. She always loves to spend time with her family and likes to do anything creative.

Paul Kightlinger

Funeral Director and Embalmer

Paul Kightlinger is a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer.  He is our lead embalmer and insures every loved one looks their absolute best.  Paul graduated Wheaton College where he played defensive tackle on their football team.  Paul came to Dallas in 1974 in order to attend what was at the time called Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science and is now the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. He is a member of the honor mortuary fraternity, Pi Sigma Eta. 

Paul has worked in the funeral industry in the Dallas area since his graduation in 1975. Paul has resided in DeSoto, Texas, since 1976.  Being an active member in Faith Bible Church in DeSoto occupies a great deal of his time.  Any extra available time, he spends entertaining his dog, Schroeder (a Miniature Schnauzer). 

Life took an unexpected turn two years ago when his beloved wife, Pam, died unexpectedly.  Grief is not easier when you work in the industry.  Paul is passionate about helping families and understands first-hand how important it is to properly say goodbye to loved ones.

Paul enjoys attending church and church functions, reading, and playing with his dog.

Kate Rogers

Funeral Director

Kate Rogers is a licensed Funeral Director at Hughes Family Tribute Center.  She was born in Amarillo, Texas and raised in the small town of Bryson, Texas. Kate set her sights on becoming a funeral director after experiencing the death of her father in 2017 and feeling drawn to the profession to help others who are grieving.  After graduating from Bryson High School in 2019, she began attending the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, completing their program in 2020 with an Associate of Applied Science in Mortuary Science degree.  She is a member of the honor mortuary fraternity, Pi Sigma Eta, where she served as the Junior Artist of the Epsilon Chapter.  She moved to Dallas in 2021 to pursue a career in funeral service, beginning her apprenticeship at Hughes Family Tribute Center shortly after.  In early 2022, Kate completed her apprenticeship and became a licensed Funeral Director.  While she was working full time, Kate was also a full-time student at the Mid-America College of Funeral Service, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Funeral Home Management degree in November of 2022.  

Kate is a Certified Funeral Celebrant, Green Burial Certified by the Green Burial Council, a Certified Death Companion, and holds a Certificate in Thanatology from Mid-America College of Funeral Service. 

Kate is a member of the St. Monica Catholic Church in Dallas.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends, family, boyfriend, and her beloved cat, Apollo.  She is also a proud Auntie to her niece, Luna, and nephews, Caleb, and Arlo.  

Ursula Camacho

Office Administrator

Armando Villareal

Cemetery Superintendent, Crown Hill Memorial Park

Star

Therapy Dog

Star is a certified grief therapy dog at Hughes Family Tribute Center. She was born on May 1, 2021 and became a part of the team and our family in March of 2022. Star is a comforting presence around grieving families. She is always up for a pet on the head, a hug around the neck, or just sitting next to you in quiet company.

Star primarily works around our funeral home, but she also helps outside of work as well. She has gone to many events and locations such as schools as a grief therapy dog and ambassador to Hughes Family Tribute Center.

When she isn’t at work, Star loves to play with her best friend, Willow, a German Shepherd.