Cover photo for Nancy Hedrick's Obituary
Nancy Hedrick Profile Photo
Nancy

Nancy Hedrick

d. January 26, 2018

Nancy Goering Hedrick passed away Friday, January 26, 2018. She was born May 19, 1926 in Newton, Kansas. She grew up in Newton and attended Newton High School. She went on to receive two degrees from the University of Kansas, a Bachelor’s Degree in personnel administration in 1948 and a Master’s Degree in Political Science in 1949. Nancy taught at KU as a graduate assistant in her field of study. She was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.

 

In 1949, she married Clay Hedrick, also from Newton. They lived in Newton until Clay was called to active duty in the Korean War. Nancy, along with their 18-month-old daughter Janie, flew to Japan to join Clay. They lived in Japan for almost three years. While there Nancy took every opportunity to enjoy the experience and the culture. They moved back to Newton in 1953, and had their son Clay III, “Trip” in 1954. Nancy took art lessons and began doing pastel portraits of children for family and friends. In 1964, she started teaching sociology courses at Bethel College. In 1968, she changed careers and was named Assistant Administrator at Prairie View Mental Health Center. Prairie View, a psychiatric hospital, was started in 1954 by the Mennonites. Prairie View became the first mental health center in Kansas. Nancy became the Director of Personnel and was responsible for starting their volunteer program in 1969. After 29 years to the day at Prairie View, she retired from personnel but continued as Director of Volunteers. Under Nancy’s leadership, the volunteer program was recognized nationally and served as a model to organizations starting new volunteer programs. When she retired, there were over 119 active volunteers. Nancy authored ten publications for professional journals and presented at eight national conventions on the topic of volunteerism. Nancy was listed in Who’s Who in the Midwest in the 17th and 18th editions of Marquis Who’s Who, Inc. She was selected as 1981 Newton Business and Professional Woman of the Year in the field of business and professional service. She served on the Chamber of Commerce and Newton Health Care Council, Board of Leadership Newton, was a Charter Member of the Kansas Hospital Personnel Management Association, and a member of the American Society for Health Care Human Resources Administration & United Way. She was also a member of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, P.E.O. Chapter AG, and Junior Reading Circle.

 

Clay and Nancy have enjoyed extensive travels. She was a wonderful grandmother to her three grandsons and great-grandmother to her nine great-grandchildren. Nancy and Clay moved to The Forum in Overland Park four years ago to be closer to family. They would often say how fortunate they were to have met so many wonderful people at The Forum. Nancy leaves behind her husband, Clay; her son, Trip, and his wife L’Louise; her daughter, Janie, and her husband, Tom; grandsons Bill Grant and his wife, Sarah; Joey Grant and his wife, Shanna; and Bob Grant and his wife, Anne, her nine great-grandchildren and her sister, Susan Goering Koehn. A memorial service will be held at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Newton, Kansas at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 10th. A reception will follow in the Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 2001 Windsor Drive, Newton, Kansas, 67114 and Prairie View, Inc., 1901 East 1st Street, Newton, Kansas 67114.

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