Rest in sweet beautiful glorious glamorous peace. I loved every minute of my time in Seattle in the 90's and you and Kings Elephant were a huge part of that joy.
Peace and comfort to your family and friends.

I'll just post what I posted on FB: "Heather and I met ages ago while working together at the Pike Place Market. I was awestruck by her wit, smile, undeniable sexiness and infectious charm. Several years later we had a short-lived, but stunning relationship. Her body succumbed to the ravages of lung cancer on 9/12/12 due to three decades of cigarette smoking. The world is just a pinch less bright without her."

Fuck cancer and fuck the cigarettes that so often causes it. For those of you who still smoke, I know it's a really hard addiction to kick, but please consider doing what you need to do to stop. Smoking really does kill.

Damn. Such a loss.

Heather Artena Hughes, you were a star here on earth, now you are a star in heaven. You will always be in my heart, I love you - babe

It was impossible to not fall in love with Heather Hughes. Seattle is a lesser place without her. Those that knew and loved her are better people for it. Rest easy, superstar. Thank you for 20+ years of magic. I am gonna miss that smile.

She was such a part of Seattle, and someone who had the rare ability to brighten anyone's day. What a talent - she will be sorely missed.

And, @2, while I appreciate the whole "fuck cancer" thing, as well as genuine passion on the subject, I will NEVER understand what motivates a person to say shit like that immediately upon hearing of someone's passing. No matter your intent, it always, always comes across as blaming the dead person for their death.

Which, with smoking, may be fair, but fuck man, not at the funeral, you know?

She really was a lovely, lovely, person.

I suppose the universe decided it had better use of her elsewhere and that we'd gotten more than our fair share.

The 1980's would looked very different if I had not met Heather.
She was a kind friend, incredible performer. She had big hair in West Seattle back when it was cool. Witty and spontaneous, I will miss her, but mostly I will remember knowing her.

I loved Heather. She was smart, funny and awesomely beautiful!
My favorite story about her was when another actor friend of mine was working with her, he said that the best part of the play was that he got to kiss heather.
She made a great pie and a great son.
Love

Oh fuck, now I'm crying, and I never cry. Heather was simply one of those rare, beautiful people whom no man, or woman, or child or pet for that matter, could not help but fall instantly in love with. Sexy,sassy, whip-smart, she was truly luminous.

So many shows at Annex, and after dropping off my personal radar for nearly a decade, so many drinks at The Rendezvous, each and every moment spent in her presence a gift.

Sail onward my beautiful friend, to whatever distant harbor offers you safe haven.

She was hilarious and smart. Yes: beautiful, too-- enviably so. And cool. So fucking cool. But I'll miss her laugh, most of all.

Yes, great girl and will be missed. I worked alongside Heather at Pike Market as a day stall vendor and I gotta say----those long, cold days were way more fun if Heather was close by. She could really find the funny in everything. And open-minded, friendly, talented, beautiful don't even begin to regale her gifts. And a great performer---I think it must have been a King's Elephant or Annex performance where I saw her in a bunch of sketches---most notably when she was a gorgeous, stock still, painted white --- venus type statue----i think she may have moved eventually........loved and will be missed!

I have known Heather for a very long time. We use to play Joan Jet on the juke box in the 7th or 8th grade Cascade Middle School in White Center WA. It was "I love rock N roll". I will always love Heather she is one of the greatest woman that I have ever known. It has been awhile sense we spoke so when I heard the news I haven't stopped crying ever sense. If there is a funeral, memorial or a celebration of her life please contact me at bam427bam@hotmail.com

Love you Heather. It has been so long since I have have seen you in person. I am sorry that we didn't meet again. Love you! Laura

I was fortunate to have worked with Heather in the day ~ she came to my studio ~ to work on "Vocal Techniques" that she could apply in her acting. Heather was brilliantly curious...and a joy to work with.
We share friends in common, so there were many occasions we would see one another, at a party, or at the market where we both worked....and being in creative circles...we would meet and re met on occasion.
What can I say, except...I see her smile in my minds' eye and I feel her wit when I think of her.
Thank you Heather, for touching my life. RIP

Heather and I worked together during the summer of 1994. She was the antidote to the confusion of returning to Seattle after a year in the UK. She'd unashamedly call her large cargo van "No Mister" and laugh in a way completely unique to her.

Heather was the best person I ever knew. I met her at Hamburger Mary's when it was on Broadway in the little mall next to the Jack in the box parking lot.
She was so beautiful it was hard not to talk to her. We became fast friends and I would sit in the restaurant all day joking with her during herand nobody cared not even the owners because it was so funny. Not just me mind you, she was so brilliant and funny she could bounce freestyle with anyone.
She had the biggest heart, she fed me when I was hungry and took care of me when i was ill so many times i can't count. I was not the only one. Heather would help anyone she could when ever she could.
I am happy that she was such a big part of Seattle and that so many people knew her and loved her. I am sad to hear of her passing so soon from this world, so young, too young.
Good bye my friend and thank you for being a true friend, I will miss you til I die.

I only got to know Heather about one year ago while we were both in design school. She didn't reveal much about herself initially, but we became great school friends in short time. As all of the above people mentioned, she had a inherent charm and warmth not found in most people. I always looked forward to seeing her.

I only knew Heather for the past year while we were both at design school. Like everyone above has said, she was really one of the most vibrant and charming people I have ever met. She did not reveal much about her earlier life in Seattle in the 1990s, but some of the stories did come out - what a life! I, and I think that I can speak for everyone at BC Interior Design, she will really be missed.