Wilson Stewart Hudson, born July 19, 1959, a resident of Youngstown, Fla., died peacefully Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at the late Willie West family’s hunting camp and farm near Sardis, surrounded by friends, family and his dog Bama.
He completed a “bucket list” that included honoring his commitments, enjoying bonfires and Budweiser, going fishing with loved ones, being serenaded by long-time family friend Grayson Capps, riding on a Mardi Gras float with the Condi Explorers, visiting Cedar Creek hunting lodge, and being at the West farm with the best good buddies anyone could have.
He was born in and grew up in Brewton, graduating from T.R. Miller High School in 1978. An avid Auburn fan and outdoorsman, he always enjoyed building and carpentry work. He worked for over 25 years for CeCo Concrete Construction, building high rise condominiums around the southeast. According to his foremen and friends, Stevie West and Mike Thomas, he was “the best frame guy and stair guy anywhere.” He also worked for R&R Construction in Mobile, and this past summer he took contract work for a few months, doing beach cleanup after the British Petroleum Deepwater Horizon disaster.
He was a gentle spirit with an endearing stubborn streak to whom the family referred as “the hardest working man in America.” All of those who knew him and experienced his humorous and easy-going nature feel privileged to have done so.
Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” was his favorite song of all time, and his friends and loved ones will feel that music from now until they join him and the stars that shone so extraordinarily brightly the night and early hours of March 7 and 8.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen Conti Hudson.
Survivors include his parents, Eugene and Kathryn “Booda” Hudson of Fairhope; son, Jason Stewart Hudson of Fairhope; sister, Suzanne Hudson of Fairhope; two brothers, Joseph Sumner Hudson of Spanish Fort and John Chandler Hudson of Daphne; an honorary sister, Jamie Gardner Rutan of Point Washington, Fla.; many other family members; a phenomenal number of friends; his beloved fiancé and soul mate, Rebecca Langerud of Youngstown, Fla.; Rebecca’s family, all of whom Wilson cherished, includes her daughter, Elizabeth Mount; son, James Langerud; and two grandchildren, Sarina Mount and Katelyn Langerud.
Visitation begins at 3 p.m. with a memorial service at 4 p.m. Saturday, March 26 at 10930 Sandy Lane in Fairhope on Waterhole Branch of Fish River with the Rev. Bill Kierce of Jubilee Shores United Methodist Church officiating.
The celebration, including an official, albeit ironic, “You ‘bout as sorry as Wisson Husson” Budweiser toast, will continue into the evening hours; and, at some point in the near future, a permanent memorial inspired by Capps’ music and constructed with his dad, Mayor Capps’ supervision, will be erected on the Branch, with a special element in tribute to Wilson.
A memorial service will also be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 2 at 8934 Clear Lake Drive in Youngstown, Fla.
The family requests memorial donations be made to Hospice, 401 Bowling Ave. Suite 51, Nashville, TN 37205-5124, the Leukemia Research Foundation, 3520 Lake Ave. Suite 202, Wilmette, IL 60091-1064, the Woods Hole Research Center, Gilman Ordway Campus, 149 Woods Hole Road, Falmouth, MA 02540 with a request that the donation to the latter go toward research studying the physical effects of the oil spill cleanup on workers and first responders.
Cremation arrangements are by Selma Funeral Home/Pineville Memory Gardens, Selma.
