My uncle Jim Hedger, husband of my dad's sister Marilyn, passed away on April 29, 2010, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on October 30, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Benjamin James and Minnie Rice Hedger. He had at least two older sisters, Lorraine and Juanita "Nita." Jim lived in Chicago and Oak Park for most of his life, until he moved to Florida in 1981. He was the proud owner of Graves Spray Supply, Inc. which continues to be owned and operated by his family. He and Marilyn were married (in a double ceremony with Marilyn's sister Rosemary) on June 13, 1953. They had six children (all happily married today), 26 grandchildren (many married or engaged); and one great-grandchild (with two more on the way). Jim was an avid fisherman and golfer, and known to all as a most generous, kind and loving person. He was a man of strong faith - Psalm 112, read by daughter Ginny at his funeral, is an apt description.
I did not meet my Uncle Jim until 1976, when I was 19, but have seen him at a number of family occasions since then. Jim and Marilyn, Ginny and daughter-in-law Jane were in Seattle on business on August 1, 2002, when the photo above (with me) was taken. Jim and Marilyn also put me up in their then-condo in Clearwater, Florida, when I visited briefly in December 1999; a visit I will always be grateful for since my grandmother Elizabeth Pape, also living in Clearwater at the time, died a month later. Uncle Jim always had a ready smile and booming laugh, and I will miss him.
© Amanda Pape - 2010
My condolences on the loss of your uncle. What a lovely smile he had!
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