Colleen was born August 16, 1926 in Topeka, Kansas. She was a child of the depression and told stories of living through the dust bowl years in Kansas. Her mother had an 8th grade education and her father only a 3rd grade education.
Colleen determined early on that she was going to work hard to have a better life.
Colleen attended a one-room school through 8th grade and was a very good student. Attending high school in Topeka, Kansas she worked hard to be a top student and she particularly excelled in English and Debate. She was captain of her school's award winning debate team.
After high school Colleen got a job in the commissary at Winter General Hospital in Topeka, Kansas, a military hospital that treated injured WWII veterans. It was there that Colleen met Robert Hedrick who she married March 30, 1945. They remained married for 56 years, until Robert's death in 2001.
When Robert was discharged from the hospital he and Colleen settled in Omaha, NE. In 1946 their son, Rodney, was born and in 1952 their daughter, Claudia, was born.
In 1955 Robert was offered a promotion to Southern California. The family moved and purchased a home in Whittier with help from the GI Bill. In 1956 their son, Allen was born. In June of 1964, following a trip to the Pacific Northwest, Bob and Colleen felt the North Coast would be a nice place to reside. In October of 1964 the family had settled in Sunny Brae.
At the end of the 1965 school year Bob and Colleen began searching for a house that more fit their ideal of living in Northern CA. They soon purchased a home near the Azalea reserve in McKinleyville and both Claudia and Allen lived there through high school.
When Colleen and Bob became empty nesters they purchased the largest house they had ever owned, also in McKinleyville. Colleen said that it wasn't something they needed, but for the first time in their marriage they were in a position to just do what they wanted.
Beginning in the 1970's Colleen became active in the community of McKinleyville, donating her time and effort to the chamber of commerce and to the McKinleyville Merchant's Association. During this period of time a newspaper was started in McKinleyville and Colleen went to work for them writing articles and selling advertising.
When the McKinleyville News folded Colleen went to work for the Arcata Union newspaper, owned by the Hadley family. Colleen spent many good years in their employ selling advertising and writing articles.
Colleen was highly respected in the community as a salesperson of immense integrity and as a talented writer. When the Arcata Union was sold Colleen felt it was time to move on and until her retirement she enjoyed working for the North Coast Journal.
After Bob's death in 2001 Colleen found herself living alone for the first time in her entire life. Shortly thereafter Colleen moved to Cutten to be near her daughter. There were difficult months of adjustment, but Colleen did what she always did, and I quote her now "I am going to pull myself up by the bootstraps and create the best life I can."
Colleen loved her home in Cutten enjoyed tending to her three raised flowerbeds and her much admired peach tree. She loved her rescue cats, Cleo and Lego. She was however, lonely at times and in seeking out something worthwhile to become involved in and in the hopes of meeting people and making friends she discovered the local chapter of Republican Women.
Colleen served in a variety of capacities in the Republican Women's organization, writing the newsletter, fundraising, chairing events, creating a scholarship fund and serving as club president in 2009 and 2010. In 2010 Colleen was honored as the Republican Volunteer of the year at a gala event held at the Ingomar Club. Best of all she made many dear friend and she treasured that most of all.
Colleen was preceded in death by her parents George and Audrey Moore, by her husband Robert Hedrick, siblings Jeanie Vaught, Beverly Lunger, and George Moore Jr., by a special sister-in-law Jean Poell, and by her dear friend Phyllis McCartney.
Colleen had many interests and many friends, but the love, pride and devotion to her family was always her highest priority. Colleen is survived by her beloved son Rod Hedrick and wife Linda, her daughter Claudia Martinelli and husband Ralph, her son Allen and wife Stephanie; her grandchildren Lindsey (Hedrick) Lee and husband Nicholas, Brandon Hedrick, Catherine Martinelli, Maria Martinelli, Nick Martinelli and wife Jeanetty and their daughters Lucy and Ari, brother-in-law Clyde Lunger, brother-in-law Ray Vaught, dear friend Jack Moore and numerous nieces and nephews.
No words can express the gratitude of Colleen and her family to Hospice of Humboldt who provided medical care, personal care, social support; spiritual care and pet care during the past year. Special tribute is also in order to Colleen's caregivers who tended her so lovingly and became her good true friends. They are Richard Rood, Rachel Beck, Susan McCoy, Ellen McCoy and granddaughters Catherine and Maria Martinelli.
Donations may be made in Colleen's name to ◼ Sequoia Humane Society, ◼ Hospice of Humboldt, or the scholarship fund of the local chapter of Republican Women.* ◼ Please sign the guestbook at www.times-standard.com
Ocean View Chapel at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1, followed with a reception at 2:30 at Roy's Club, Colleen's favorite restaurant. Hope you all can make it.
* NOTE: HRWF's Colleen Hedrick Scholarship kicked off two years ago. It is a $500.00 scholarship, to be awarded to a deserving high school graduate. There's an added kick: The scholarship includes an additional $500.00 to be awarded upon completion of their Freshman year provided the recipient maintains a 3.0 GPA during that year. It is listed on our ◼ PROJECTS page on this website. You can donate online via the link in our sidebar, or by Mail at: HRWF (Humboldt Republican Women, Federated), PO Box 3563, Eureka, CA 95502
Four scholarships have been awarded so far. Grady Sheehy and Melissa Ayers the first year, and Matt Kirk and McLean Johnson the second year.
Webmaster's note: This site is inspired by, and dedicated to, Colleen Hedrick, whose tireless work, perennial good cheer, and fighting spirit was a model for us all.
