Paul Hedrick, 90, formerly of Merriam, Kansas, passed away Monday, February 6, 2023 in Beaverton, Oregon with his daughter, Susan and son-in-law, Bill at his side.
Paul was born May 15, 1932, in Atchison, Kansas to Gilbert and Eva (Keller) Hedrick.
As the youngest of three children, Paul grew up surrounded by a loving, extended family. The family were members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints currently known as the Community of Christ.
While attending Atchison High School, Paul, his brother Myron, and sister Ruth participated in music. As a member of the marching band, Paul had fond memories of traveling by rail to New York City to march with the drum and bugle corps during the 1948 American Legion Parade.
Paul was a Boy Scout and earned the Eagle Scout rank while in high school. He was proud that his sons and grandsons also participated in Scouts, with one, Weston Hedrick, achieving the Eagle Scout award as well.
While growing up in Atchison, his father worked on the Missouri Pacific Railroad. He and his family enjoyed travel by rail, and his father helped create a love for model trains while Paul was a young boy. From that point on, wherever Paul lived, he designed and built an O-gauge model train layout. He enjoyed sharing his passion and running his trains for friends and family. This became an important hobby that he enjoyed well into his late 80s.
After high school, Paul earned an associate degree from the church affiliated Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa. From Graceland, Paul enrolled at the University of Kansas and received a BS in Business Administration in 1954. While at KU, he played the snare drum with the KU marching and concert bands.
Most importantly, Paul met his love, Janice Mason of St. Joseph, Missouri, at KU. Upon graduating, Paul was drafted into the Army and stationed in Alaska during the Korean War. In 1955, he persuaded Janice to fly to Alaska in the dead of winter for a visit. While she was there, they were invited to a Christmas celebration with Fairbanks church friends, where he proposed to her.
His work-career encompassed many interesting endeavors such as finance, personal banking, real-estate, and operating a personal transportation business. In conjunction with these, he and Janice developed a large Amway distributorship from which they created long lasting friendships.
Paul was a Priest in the Community of Christ church, and the family attended the Mission Road congregation in Prairie Village, Kansas. As devoted members for 64 years, he and Janice served the congregation in many ways. For all those years he sang in the church choir which Janice directed.
Family togetherness and time spent with his children and grandchildren were his greatest joy: attending sporting or musical events, playing games, having family dinners together or just talking to them over the phone (even sending silly texts) filled him with happiness.
Paul and Janice had a loving and adoring 64-year marriage, and he cared for her until her passing on October 8, 2020. Paul continued to bring warmth and concern for all until his peaceful passing.
He was preceded in death by his wife Janice; his parents; sister, Ruth Bosshardt; brother, Myron Hedrick: and grandson, Grant Hedrick.
Survivors include his children, Stephen Hedrick (Mary), Russell Hedrick (Debbie), Douglas Hedrick (Maria) and Susan Rehm (William).
His grandchildren Mitchell Hedrick (Alison); Allison and Greg Hedrick; Hannah, William, and Christopher Rehm; and Mason and Weston Hedrick. One great-grandson, Lane Hedrick (Mitchell) and several nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.
A Celebration of Life is set for March 4 at 1 p.m., at Community of Christ, 7842 Mission Rd, Prairie Village, KS 66208. This service will celebrate the lives of both Paul and Janice.
Arrangements under the direction of Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory.