Bonnie Lee Hedrick

Bonnie Lee Hedrick

Clinton - Bonnie Lee Brown Hedrick of Clinton, Tennessee passed away at home on Monday, October 5, 2020 after a lengthy battle with breast and uterine cancers. She was born on April 16, 1940 at her parent's farm in Temperance, Michigan.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Dr. Clyde Lewis Hedrick, Jr.; her parents, Wilfred and Vivian Brown; her two brothers, Dr. Norman Brown and Thomas Brown, and her infant daughter Heather. She is survived by her son, Jeff Hedrick of Knoxville, Tennessee; her daughter Patti Baker, son-in-law Dr. Chuck Baker, grandchildren Aiden and Avery Baker of Clinton, Tennessee; her brother Richard Brown of Traverse City, Michigan; and many extended family members. She is also survived by her two dear childhood friends, Karon Bristol of Toledo, Ohio and Pat Jones of Ottawa Lake, Michigan.

Education was one of Bonnie's core values. She graduated from Bedford High School in Temperance, Michigan. She received a scholarship to attend Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with a major in Natural Science and a minor in the Administration of Community Recreation. She received the EMU Faculty Women's Club Scholarship for campus leadership in her junior year while serving as President of Omicron Pi Sorority. She received a graduate level scholarship to California State University at Los Angeles where she completed 20 hours of graduate work in education. She then received another graduate level scholarship to the University of California at Los Angeles where she met her husband, Clyde Lewis Hedrick, Jr., who was finishing a doctorate in nuclear physics. At UCLA, Bonnie completed 35 hours in reading education and received a certification as a Reading Specialist.

She taught 2nd grade for five years in El Monte, California and 3rd grade for three years at the Los Angeles City Schools System. She was a Career Level Educator and a presenter at many educational conferences. She was named to "Who's Who in American Education" and was a long-time member of Delta Kappa Gamma, serving many years as co-president. In 1980, Bonnie received a Master's Degree from the University of Tennessee followed by one year of additional training as a Reading Recovery teacher. She was employed as a Reading Specialist at Willow Brook Elementary School in Oak Ridge for twenty-five years.

She loved the outdoors and was a gardener, birdwatcher, hiker, biker, camper, reader, and lifelong learner. Bonnie also enjoyed watching and supporting the Tennessee Lady Vols Basketball Team. She considered their coach Pat Summit an outstanding role model for women's leadership. Bonnie felt an emotional connection with Pat because her own mother passed away with complications of Alzheimer's/Dementia.

Mrs. Hedrick was very active in the Oak Ridge community serving as a Sunday School teacher at First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge. She volunteered and taught hundreds of children about God and Jesus at FUMC Bible School for twelve summers. She also loved her many years serving as a Girl Scout Troop Leader and learned to snow ski at 40 years of age to take her scouts on many ski trips. She directed Sail Camp at the Concord Yacht Club in Knoxville. She also directed the campaign for Jo Roe on the Oak Ridge City Council putting the first woman on that council.

In retirement and after her husband's death, Bonnie moved from Oak Ridge to Clinton to be closer to her daughter and her family. She enjoyed her quiet neighborhood and the many friends that she made there. She attended many classes at ORICL at Roane State Community College, including 3 book clubs. She was also involved in Timely Topics Women's Club and Garden Club. She helped build houses for Habitat for Humanity working on 12 different homes. She gardened at First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge and Norris Elementary School where she also assisted with reading activities.

Bonnie especially loved her family. She found peace and comfort in being a wife and mother. Her greatest joy was becoming a grandmother to Aiden and Avery Baker. She was known to them as "Gaga". She turned her home into a grandchildren's paradise and devoted much of her time caring for them, particularly during her son-in-law and granddaughter's treatments for Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Mrs. Hedrick's cremains will join her husband's in the Memorial Garden at her church. Her memorial service will be held on Monday, October 19th, 2020 at 6:00 pm in the Memorial Garden at the First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge. Weatherford Mortuary will be handling the arrangements and an online guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.

Any donations are appreciated and should be sent to the Hematology/Oncology Department at East Tennessee Children's Hospital or First Steps Child Development program at First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge.