Gagen A. Hedrick

From the very beginning, Gagen was a light. A connector. If you knew him, you knew his smile. One that could shift the energy of an entire room. You knew his laugh, his sharp wit, and the kindness woven through everything he did. He was a son, a brother, a grandson, a friend. More than anything, he was a regular kid, full of hopes and dreams, navigating tough feelings, and trying to make sense of the world, but Gagen had to do it with brain cancer.
He didn't pretend it away. He faced it. Named it. Spoke of it openly, sometimes bluntly, often with humor, but always with a bravery that stunned those around him. That honesty cracked open space for conversations about life, faith, fear, and what comes next. He knew, long before most of us were ready to consider it, that his time here might be short, and he showed up for it. Every. Single. Day.
His favorite passage, Philippians 1:18-21, became more than a comfort; it was his calling:
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
Gagen lived those words. He inspired others to seek Christ, sometimes through conversation, often just by being exactly who he was. In the months leading up to his passing, the stories shared by those he touched have poured in. Stories of kindness. Of laughter. Of hearts, minds, and perspectives changed because they knew him. We could write volumes and never capture the full force of who Gagen was or what he meant to us. The average human life spans 4,000 weeks. Gagen graced us with 1,024. His time here was heartbreakingly short, but long enough to shake the world of everyone lucky enough to have stood in his light.
Gagen is survived by his loving parents, Jason and Elizabeth Hedrick of Rolla; his sisters, Kinsley Hedrick of Rolla, and Kiersta Keithley of St. James; his grandparents-Steve and Sonja Childers of Rolla, Jesse and Sharon Hedrick of Viburnum, and Linda Morgan of Rolla; and an enormous circle of extended family, devoted friends, and fierce supporters. He was welcomed into eternity by his grandfather, Dennis Morgan, and his uncle, Nick Morgan-no doubt with arms open wide.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 5 p.m. at Greentree Christian Church. Visitation will take place on Tuesday, May 13 from 5-8 p.m. at the church. Interment will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 15 at the Rolla City Cemetery. Please join us in mourning our loss, honoring his strength, and remembering Gagen Hedrick's extraordinarily beautiful life.
Flowers are welcome. Those who feel moved may also honor Gagen's life by donating to one of the following organizations that so lovingly supported him throughout his journey:
Greentree Christian Church FUEL
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
The OLLIE Foundation