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DeRay Hugh - Life Stories & Photos




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History and Life Story 

Excerpts from DeRay's Life Story 

CARS:

I have been driving for 60 years and have owned one or more vehicles during that time even when I was in the Army.  My first cars were two that I owned with Dick Swapp.  When we were 16, we bought a 1933 model Chevrolet with a bad engine from the Allens for $25.  We removed the head, ground the valves by hand, replaced the head gasket and it ran okay for a short time.   We made a run to St George and it over heated and had water in the oil.  This meant that the head was warped and our head gasket did not work.  Engines do not last long in this condition.  We traded it in at a junk yard with $20 and ended up with a nice 1931 model Chevrolet Coupe with a rumble seat.  The engine had a loose rod and knocked very loudly but the junk yard gave us a new rod.  We jacked it up at Uncle Bill’s, used his tools and replaced the rod.  When it started it had a leak in the fuel pump which we fixed with a piece of rubber from an inner tube.  (Amy’s 2003 Chevrolet recently had a bad fuel pump which was fixed for $430 plus $105 towing charge).  We enjoyed the Coupe for two years in high school with a few minor problems.  The brakes were not good and one day we came around the corner a little too fast and moved two big rocks in the courthouse fence.  We imagined the rod going bad and bought an engine from the Sears catalog for $75 dollars, using Dad’s garage to do the work.  After high school I ended up being the sole owner.  When I went into the Army I sold it to Sherrill for $70, later to be repossessed for lack of payment.  It was stored in the lane to the corral for four or five years. Dad complained and I sold it to the Allens for $25, completing the circle.  But I’m sorry I sold it.  I wish I still had it.  At 18, with a job and in Salt Lake I bought a 1936 Chevy with a worn out engine for $50.  It had a loud knock and used a gallon of oil every 100 miles.  It was a clunk and I carried three gallons of used motor oil in the back seat.  I was afraid to drive it over 35 Mph but by being careful I was able to drive to Kanab once and made several trips to Wendover.  Later in the summer with a better job I bought a 1940 Plymouth for $200.  It had a recently overhauled engine and I used it until I went in the Army in October 1953.  For some reason Uncle Robert sold me a nice 1949 Mercury Convertible with leopard skin seat covers, two weeks later I realized the mistake and he took it back and put me into a 1949 Mercury Sedan.  All of this just a few weeks before going into the Army.  Soon after I left home, Uncle Robert got rid of the Sedan.  I think I lost about $200 in the process. 

When in Arkansas getting out of the Army I bought a 1951 Mercury ($900), which I drove home with three others from Phoenix and Las Vegas in August of 1955 (Hot! Hot! Hot!).  In September, Uncle Robert went to Detroit, Michigan, bought a new car and towed it home with a 1953 Mercury which he sold to me for $1400.  I sold the 1951 to a friend and used the 1953 Mercury until a new 1961 Ford was purchased $2500.  Dad bought the 1953 and used it for several years (Karen and several of his sales people).  Marilyn and JD ended up with it and converted it to a boat trailer.

My better and most expensive cars were Vans:  A 1973 Motor Home on a 1 ton Dodge Van which we used for 30 years and donated to the Kidney foundation; a 1995 Ford Custom Van with a bed and nice bucket seats, now owned by Brent. A 2001 Chevy Express Custom Van which we are still using.  We have had several Mercury cars and the latest have been Buicks: a 1995 which was totaled; a 2001 which we sold to Brent; a 2007 sold to Olive Pope.  

Currently we drive a 2008 Buick Lucerne which has been converted to a bi-fuel and runs on CNG (compressed natural gas).  It gets the same gas mileage on CNG as on gasoline.  Today CNG is $.96/gallon and gas is $2.95/gallon.  I converted it at a cost of $9000, when at the time CNG was $.63 and gas was $3.75.  I am getting much better mileage than I planned so will have to drive more miles to recover my investment (BUMMER).

Oops I forgot to mention my motor cycles.  First I had a small Honda 90cc trail bike.  Then a full sized Honda 250 Hawk, which I replaced with a Honda 500 (large, water cooled with a shaft drive rather than the standard air cooled & chain drive).  I picked up a nice used kids bike for $100, a Honda 50 cc which was not street legal.  We rode it on the property.  Lastly I sold the 500 and bought a Honda 110 trail bike.  I have it in the shed and haven’t used it for several years.  I had a rack on the front of the Motor Home and hauled a trail bike when we traveled.

 

              Jeanette’s Tribute to DeRay                 
He’s gruff ‘n stuff.
Someone said at reunion:
“I like Uncle DeRay.
He’s rude but he’s funny.”
Inside he’s exceptionally loving and giving;
He would do anything for anyone.
He figures things out; fixes things; sticks with it.
Just this week he fixed my trike,
the air conditioning,
the trailer,
Et cetera.
At the annual Pugh Reunion at Duck Creek,
He will stand on a sore foot and cook
Sourdough hotcakes for dozens on request
From morn until noon;
And then make biscuits at night for the Pugh Clan.

He’s gruff ‘n stuff on the outside;
Masking his extraordinary
Warmth, tenderness, charity,
And genius.

Read DeRay's full life story here






 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 



 
 

 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 






 
 
 
 




 
 
 












 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
  

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