Elizabeth Hughes Jagger
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Published in April 2025
Elizabeth Hughes Jagger passed away peacefully on April 16, 2025, following a courageous four-year struggle with ALS, remembered for a life marked by love, service, and unwavering devotion to family, faith, and community.
Born on November 23, 1948, in Glynneath, South Wales, Great Britain, Elizabeth was the beloved daughter of the late John and Edna (Evans) Hughes. She grew up surrounded by the values of faith and service, which shaped the remarkable life she led.
Her early years were devoted to Church and Girl Guides (similar to the Girl Scouts), where she earned the highest achievement of “Queen’s Guide,” the equivalent of Eagle Scout in the United States. Elizabeth was also awarded the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, recognizing exceptional character and service. She received this honor from Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace.
Elizabeth attended Hendon College, part of the University of London, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1971.
While visiting relatives in Springvale, Maine, in 1969, Elizabeth met Richard “Dick” Jagger. Their bond was instant, and though she returned to her studies and Dick resumed his work as a Merchant Mariner, fate brought them back together when his ship docked in England months later. They were engaged that Christmas and married in July 1971, beginning 53 beautiful years of marriage.
Elizabeth and Dick raised two sons, Aaron (1974-2023) and Robert (born 1977). Even while managing the challenges of Dick’s long deployments at sea, Elizabeth was the steadfast pillar of her family. She volunteered extensively with the First Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School, shared her deep faith with children and families, and most memorably, sang in the church choir with a beautiful voice that uplifted others for many years, until ALS eventually silenced it. Her grace, strength, and spirit, however, never faded. Elizabeth also gave generously of her time to the Pine Tree Council of the Boy Scouts of America. In recognition of her outstanding contributions, she was awarded the “Silver Beaver,” the BSA’s highest adult honor. Her dedication to Scouting inspired both of her sons to become Eagle Scouts.
In her later years, Elizabeth split her time between Florida and Mousam Lake in Shapleigh, Maine, where she spent summers creating cherished memories with her grandchildren. She taught them how to swim, canoe, and kayak, picked wild blueberries, and tended to her gardens-growing flowers, herbs, and much to Richard’s chagrin, an abundance of zucchini every summer. She proudly brought her grandson, Benjamin, to the Cub Scout Day Camp that she had founded years before. In the fall, she shared her creativity and love of church with her granddaughters, Rose and Ruth, making Christmas wreaths together for the church craft fair, an annual tradition filled with laughter, pine-sap-sticky hands, and joy.
Elizabeth is survived by her loving husband, Richard Jagger; her sister, Anne VanMechelen, and nieces Victoria and Hannah of Great Britain; her son, Robert Jagger, and his wife, Corinne, of Saco, Maine; and her treasured grandchildren: Rose and Ruth Jagger of Saco and Benjamin Jagger of Orlando, Florida. She was predeceased by her parents, John and Edna Hughes, and her beloved son, Aaron Jagger.
Those wishing to honor Elizabeth’s memory are invited to make a donation supporting ALS research to Compassionate Care ALS (www.ccals.org) in her name.
A Celebration of her Life will be held in the near future.