By David Hedges, Publisher
www.thetimesrecord.net
Mary Helen Hedges, retired editor of the Roane County Reporter and vice president of Spencer Newspapers Inc., died early Tuesday at Roane General Hospital. She was 86.
She grew up in Cincinnati, where she met her future husband, Foster Hedges, while he was stationed there during World War II. They married in 1944 and, once his military service was complete, returned to his hometown of Spencer where they became very active in the community.
The couple had nine children, including a son who died as a child.
She worked with handicapped and disadvantaged youth before becoming editor of the Roane County Reporter in 1977. Following her retirement in 1990, she continued as vice president of Spencer Newspapers Inc.
She wrote news and feature articles and a popular weekly column, "Over the Back Fence," that focused on life in a small town. She was the recipient of several awards from the W.Va. Press Association for her writing.
Those who knew her said her passing was a big loss to the community.
"She was a very kind, generous and loving person who cared a lot about children," Dr. Erlinda Ambrosio, a retired pediatrician, said.
"She did not know the word 'no'," Ambrosio said. "When you asked her for something, she was there for you."
Her friend of many years, Fanny Reed, who before their retirement assisted her husband, Bill, in the operation of the O.J. Morrison department store in Spencer, said her shoes would be hard to fill.
"She was a well-rounded person who was very generous with her talents, and a wonderful mother," Reed said.
"She and Foster were builders of the community," Reed added. "They are the reason we have Roane General Hospital and a Catholic church in Spencer."
Before her husband's passing in 1986, the couple began spending winters in Florida, a practice she continued after his death. It was there that she suffered a stroke in April of this year.
After several weeks of hospitalization, first in Florida and later in Charleston, she was able to return to her home in Spencer, where she spent the last few months of her life with the assistance of family and dedicated caregivers.
A Mass of Christian Burial is set for 10 a.m. Friday at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. Visitation will be at Taylor-Vandale Funeral Home in Spencer from 6-9 p.m. Thursday.
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