Louis “Ole” Milton Hughet, Jr., 84, died of natural causes on Dec. 2 in Bend with his family by his side.

He was born on May 10, 1925, in Burns to Louis Milton Hughet, Sr. and Myrthelene Daisy Hughet.

He lived on the Hughet family cattle ranch and attended first through eighth grade at the Double O School. He later attended Burns High School until joining the United States Navy in 1944 at the age of 18. Hughet served during World War II aboard the USS Ahrens Destroyer Escort 575. He was honorably discharged in April 1946.

After serving in the war Hughet obtained his pilot’s license and enjoyed flying.

He married Rose Landano and moved to the cattle ranch in Burns. The couple had two children, Sandra and Robert, before they were divorced.

Hughet later married Audrey (Bailey) Williams and had three children — Kerry, Duane and Debra. He also helped raise three of his wife’s children from a previous marriage — Janice, Dianne and Larry — before the couple divorced.

Hughet raised barley and potatoes in the late 1950s in Harney County. He later worked as a heavy equipment operator and construction worker under Operating Engineers Union #707. Upon retiring, he enjoyed traveling in his fifth-wheel trailer. He moved between Bend and Burns over the last 20 years.

Hughet married Betty Millsap, his companion of 22 years, in August 2009.

He carried on the family tradition of his father and grandfather by joining the Masons. He loved hunting and had a tough old cowboy sense of humor.

Hughet is survived by his wife, Betty Hughet of Bend; sisters Doris Yriarte of Burns and Beth Sayles of Albany; children, Sandra Fuller of Portland, Robert Hughet of Rochester, Wash., Duane Hughet of Burns, and Debra White of Burns; daughter-in-law, Glennda Hughet of Seneca; and step-children, Janice Stowell of Bend and Larry Williams of Hines.

He is also survived by grandchildren, Tracy Fuller of Anthem, Ariz., Alison Reitz of Wellington, Kan., Nicole Hughet Smith of Phoenix, Ariz., Kimberly Katelnikoff of Kodiak, Alaska, Shyanne Slate of Burns, Samantha White of Burns, Chance White of Burns, and Clayton Hughet of Seneca; great-grandchildren, Brandon, Nathan and Tatum Fuller, Elizabeth Rose Reitz, Dmitri and Joshua Katelnikoff and Ryden Slate; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Helen Katter; son, Kerry Hughet; and grandson, Shawn Fuller. His stepdaughter, Dianne Manning died eight days after his death.

A celebration of life will be held for Hughet in May in Burns. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Hospice House of Bend.