Wilma Ann (Garretson) Hedrick
Aug 12, 1921 - Oct 22, 2003

© The Amarillo Globe-News
25 October 2003

Wilma Ann Garretson Hedrick, 82, of Amarillo died Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2003.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Ural Cemetery in Elk City, Okla., with Dwight Garretson, her brother, officiating. Arrangements are by Rector Funeral Home, 2800 S. Osage St.

Mrs. Hedrick was born Aug. 12, 1921, to Francis Marion and Janie Cherry Garretson at Lake Creek, Okla. She started school at the age of 4 and attended several one room schools including "Old Rankin" and "New Reydon." In 1939 and 1940 she attended Southwestern Bible College in Enid, Okla. She married Cyril Hedrick in 1948 at Sayre, Okla. They were married 50 years.

Mrs. Hedrick was a genealogist and writer who had compiled over 100 genealogy books. She also published a genealogy newspaper from 1969 through 1972 called the "Garretson News." She traced her lineage to the famous "Rembrandt" of Lyden, Holland, and also Will Rogers, a famous humorist, singer and entertainer in Oklahoma.

She and her husband also had a crafting business for many years, specializing in wooden rocking horses, cutting boards and Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls. She was also known in Oklahoma for her ability to restore old dolls. They also published a cookbook called "What's Cookin Grandmama" in 1989.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1998 and by three sisters.

Survivors include a daughter, Shirley Conway and husband, John, of Amarillo; a son, Danny Luther Hedrick and wife, Beth, of Amarillo; an adopted daughter, Tran Bach Yen of California; three sisters, Gladys Stone of Elk City, Lilly Anthony of Tulare, Calif., and Betty Garretson of South Carolina; two brothers, Harlan Garretson of California and Dwight Garretson of Dallas; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and her caregiver, Geneva Solis.