Benjamin 'Ben' Hughes

Funeral service for Benjamin L. Hughes will be at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 29, 2009 at the Walker Funeral Home with Brother Harold Fiala of the Jehovah Witness Kingdom Hall officiating. Visitation will be from 2-5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at the Walker Funeral Home. Burial will be at a later date in Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Sundance, Wyoming. Ben, age 28, passed away on Friday, January 23, 2009 at his home in Laramie, Wyoming from complications of his childhood illnesses. Benjamin Lucas Hughes known to his family and friends as Ben was born September 11, 1980 to Greg Cottrell and Carla K. Hughes at Boulder, Colorado. Ben moved with his family to Gillette, Wyoming and graduated from Campbell County High School. His work began early, at the age of five, when he was diagnosed with childhood leukemia. At the age of eight, Ben had central nervous system cancer. He and his mom fought and won unbeatable odds and he worked his entire life to live. Ben appreciated the gift of life and passed that legacy on to his family and friends. He was a fisherman, loved camping and was a big nature lover. Ben loved to learn from the History Channel on television. His main interest was in giving love and kindness to all people he knew or met. Ben was a true inspiration to all people who knew him. He is survived by his mother, Carla Hughes of Laramie, Wyoming; his father, Greg Cottrell of Gillette, Wyoming; one brother, Maverick Brown of Laramie, Wyoming; one sister, Ali Hughes of Laramie, Wyoming; five loving aunts, three wonderful uncles, numerous cousins, his best friend, Dallas Curry of Laramie, Wyoming, and his father figure, Bill Pridgeon of Wright, Wyoming. Ben was preceded in death by his step father, Mike Brown, his maternal grandparents, Cecil and Carol Hughes and his paternal grandfather, Lyle Cottrell. A memorial has been established to NAMI-National Alliance on Mental Illness and donations can be sent in Memory of Ben Hughes to PO Box 1883, Casper, WY 82602. Condolences may be sent via the website: www.walkerfuneralgillette.com. Walker Funeral Home of Gillette, Wyoming has been entrusted with the arrangements.