Doris Hedges passed away quietly in her sleep on the morning of Feb. 9 at the
home of her son and daughter-in-law Candace Hedges. She had lived with Candace at
her home in Winnemucca for the past two years. Doris was 93 years old.
Born in Monmouth, Ill., to Herbert and Gladis Mackey, Doris grew to adulthood in a
predominantly Irish ghetto in Peoria, Ill., where she was related by either blood or
marriage to the majority of her family's neighbors.
Doris started taking dancing lessons at the age of four and by the time she was 18 she was
an accomplished and well-known ballerina. That year she tried out and became a
member of the famous Radio City dance troupe, The Rocketts. She toured with the group
for the next few years until she met her future husband, Dean Hedges.
The family said their courtship, marriage and early family life, "sounds like something
out of a 1930 movie script." Dean was a very financially successful businessman running
a string of several hundred slot machines, jute boxes and pinball machines. He wore
expensive suits, drove fast cars and flew a sleek looking plane. The couple was
introduced while the dance troupe was on tour in the west.
When war broke out on Dec. 1, 1941, Dean sold his business and enlisted in the
Army Air Corps. Just before he was to be shipped overseas Doris caught a bus to the
base where he was stationed and they were married the next day.
After returning home from the war the senior Hedges, farmed, ranched, traded horses and
ran a gun sales business. He remained in the Air Force Reserves and served on active
duty in Korea and later during the Vietnam era. However he remained in the states
during the last conflict.
Doris and Dean had two children, Mackey Frank Hedges and Carole Marie (Hedges)
Craig.
In the late 60s Dean retired and he and Doris moved to southern California. Doris again
took up dancing and organized a group of senior ladies that went around the state
entertaining at senior citizen clubs and other civic gatherings. During this time she
entered and won the Los Angeles County Senior Citizen's Professional Talent Contest
six years in a row.
Her husband Dean, passed away in 1985 and daughter Carole passed away in 2010.
Doris is survived by her son Mackey, his wife Candace and their three boys, Buck, Jed
and Sam as well as their wives Sarah, Twilla and Jessica. She also leaves behind four
great grandsons with another on the way.
Doris was a devout Catholic even though she quit attending Mass a few years ago for health reasons. She was a devoted wife, loving mother and great example for all those that knew her. She will be greatly missed by her family and the few friends remaining alive. She was laid to rest along side of her husband at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, Calif., at 1 p.m. Monday Feb. 13, 2012. Arrangements are under the direction of Albertson Funeral Home. Those wishing to do so may leave comments for the family at albertsonfuneralhome.com.
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