Claude Smith "Chip" Hughey, Jr.

Claude Smith "Chip" Hughey Jr., 77, of Easley, South Carolina, passed away at his home on October 31, 2026.

Born on May 4, 1949, in Bethune, South Carolina, Chip was the son of the late Claude Smith Hughey Sr. and Margaret Estridge. He grew up in Bethune, attended Massey University, and served in the United States Air Force. He went on to spend more than 30 years working in the roofing industry, building a career through hard work and determination.

But if you knew Chip, you knew his career was hardly the most interesting thing about him.

Chip was a character in every sense of the word. Energetic, charming, sarcastic, and blessed with a wicked sense of humor, he had a remarkable ability to make people laugh, cringe, and shake their heads, sometimes all in the same conversation. His famous "Chipisms," his collection of hats, and his tendency to say exactly what was on his mind made him someone you didn't easily forget.

More than anything, Chip collected people. Where others collected possessions, he collected friendships, conversations, and connections. He loved meeting people, learning their stories, and making sure they remembered his name. He was quick with a compliment, eager to celebrate someone else's accomplishments, and rarely missed an opportunity to make someone smile.

He loved motorcycles, particularly his Harleys, fishing, shooting pool, wandering flea markets, watching spaghetti Westerns, and building teardrop campers. He had a special love for the South Carolina coast, particularly Garden City and Murrells Inlet, where he enjoyed some of his happiest days. A good cup of coffee, a cigarette, a little sunshine, and something interesting to get into were often all he needed.

For all his humor and larger-than-life personality, Chip was also a hardworking father who took providing for his family seriously. There were times he worked three jobs to make sure his children had what they needed. Their safety, security, and success were always on his mind, and he never missed an opportunity to brag about them. He was especially proud of his daughter Courtney's military service, though each of his three children gave him plenty of reasons to boast.

Chip is survived by his three children, Jason Hughey and his wife Tara, Courtney Hughey, and Lane Hughey and his wife Alison. He was preceded in death by his parents, Claude Smith Hughey Sr. and Margaret Estridge.

Chip wasn't perfect, and he never needed to be. He was funny, stubborn, hardworking, occasionally outrageous, and entirely himself. He lived life on his own terms, loved his children fiercely, and left behind more stories and friendships than anyone could count.

He was simply Chip. And there will never be another quite like him.