Hugh Mason Ayer PhD, 90, of Denton, passed away on Monday, July 14, 2014. He was born on March 8, 1924 in McLean County (Livia) Kentucky to Henry Cashman and Myrtle Clay Thomasson Ayer. He married Elizabeth Heisler on August 17, 1946 and served in the United States Naval Reserve from 1943-1945 where he was a member of the Great Lakes Naval Training Center Choir and served in Pacific Theater as a Radio Operator, intercepting Japanese Naval Communications. Hugh loved wood working, golf, and fly fishing in the streams of Colorado.

Hugh was a member of the First Christian Church of Denton where he was an Elder and Past Official Board Chairman. He graduated from Calhoun, KY High School in 1942, received his Bachelor's degree in 1948 from Western Kentucky University, and attended Indiana University where he received his Master's degree in 1950 and his PhD in 1957 in American History. He taught American History at Culver Military Academy from 1952-1958, and at the University of North Texas from 1958-1990. He was a professor of History, Chairman of the Division of Social Science, and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Hugh is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; children, Margaret Mason Ayer and husband Darin Davis of Austin, TX, and David Hugh Ayer and partner Katie Stark of Santa Fe, NM; and grandchildren, Mason Ayer of Austin, TX and Davis Ayer of Los Angeles, CA. He is preceded in death by his parents.

He was a member of the Denton Planning and Zoning Commission from 1962-1966, a member of the Denton City Council from 1968-1972 and 1988-1992, Chairman of 1987 Blue Ribbon Committee, member and on the Board of Directors of the Denton Area Teachers Credit Union, member and on the Advisory Board at the Salvation Army Denton Corps, member and officer of Denton Kiwanis Club, Denton Chapter of Habitat for Humanity, and on the Board of Directors of the Denton Community Food Center, and member and on the City/County Library Board. He also had professional memberships with the American Historical Association, Southern Historical Association, Mississippi Valley Historical Association, Phi Alpha Theta, and Texas Association of College Teachers.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 from 5-7 pm at DeBerry Funeral Directors. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 17, 2014 at 2:00 pm at the First Christian Church in Denton. Join the family after the service for a reception in the Fellowship Hall. Burial will be at Oak Grove Cemetery in McLean County, KY.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Christian Church, Denton, Texas, to Oak Grove Church, McLean County, Kentucky, or to Denton Habitat for Humanity.