Irene (Leeper) Clague Hedgecock (2022)
CLAGUE, HEDGECOCK, KYLE, LEEPER, NOLTE, ROBINSON, TAYLOR, THORSON
Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:02:57
Early Chapel Christian Church
Jackson Township, Madison County, Iowa
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March 14, 2022Irene Marie Hedgecock was born Irene Marie Leeper on August 1, 1929, the sixth of seven children to Kenneth “Lloyd” and Faye Leeper, in rural Madison County, where she grew up and spent many years of her life. As a child, she had a decade of perfect attendance at church, and faith, community, and worship were the lifelong currents that steered her. At age 15, Irene began teaching Sunday school church classes to younger children; she also attended Earlham High School and graduated in 1947.
At Early Chapel Church in Earlham, where Irene and her family worshiped throughout their lives, she found not only faith but love; her first husband, Lloyd “Lefty” Clague, also attended service there. The wider church family watched their love blossom, and in April 1948, Irene and Lefty married in the church’s first large formal wedding at Early Chapel.
Irene continued to teach Sunday school classes at Early Chapel and played the organ for hymns during services. She also served as a deacon for several years before being voted in as a church Elder, sat as president of the church’s ladies’ group, and acted as church clerk throughout the years.
Outside of the church, Irene’s life was rich with activity, both as the wife of a farmer, and as the mother of her three children, Cheryl, Gary, and Timothy. Life on the farm outside Earlham was often busy, and always joyous. Irene and Lefty brought a little bit of the wider world to the farm by hosting foreign exchange students. On the farm, the family grew corn and soybeans, and raised pigs, cows, and chickens. Irene loved vegetables from the garden, and she dutifully fed the numerous cats who lived on the farm. Her rose bushes were prominent and beloved.
In 1981, her husband Lefty Clague passed away. Irene found this time quite difficult but eventually bought a house in Earlham, and in 1991, she married Royal Hedgecock, to whom she remained married for the final 31 years of her life. She was elated to add Royal’s son, Jon, and daughter, Cathie, and their families to her own. Irene and Royal’s homes in Des Moines and West Des Moines were the sites of many happy family holidays.
Irene often reflected that, in Lefty and Royal, God blessed her with two special men across her life.
Irene will be remembered as a deeply kind, thoughtful woman of enduring faith; a loving wife, mother, grandmother, friend, neighbor, and church Elder; a passionate sports fan, Loyal, Forever, and True, always rooting for the Cyclones and especially fond of teams with “a lot of pep”; a gifted grower of rose bushes; a smart homemaker; a lover of shrimp cocktail; and a gentle, warm spirit, whose love of music ran so deep that she herself selected 23 songs to play at her funeral. May we all know the joy Irene felt while she sang hymns at Early Chapel Church.
Irene Hedgecock is survived by her husband, Royal Hedgecock; her sister, Ruby Robinson; her sister-in-law, Shirley Leeper; her children, Cheryl (Bruce) Thorson, Gary Clague, and Tim (Charlotte) Clague; her stepchildren, Jon (Brenda) Hedgecock and Cathie (Jared) Kyle; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; extended family; and many friends.
She is preceded in death by her first husband, Lloyd “Lefty” Clague; her father and mother, Kenneth Lloyd and Faye (Nolte) Leeper; her brothers, Harold (Darlene) Leeper, Richard (Ramona) Leeper, and Russell Leeper; and her sisters, Mildred Taylor and Evelyn Leeper.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 19, at Early Chapel Church in Earlham, Iowa. Pastor Gale Juhl will officiate.
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Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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