Obituary

Steven Darrel Hedrick of Hale Center, Texas, entered his heavenly home on January 9, 2022, at the age of 66.

He was born in Lubbock, Texas, on April 2, 1955, to Flem D. and Alene Hedrick. A sweet mid-life surprise, Steve joined three other older siblings already at home. He later attended Hale Center High School and graduated with the class of 1973. Go Owls!

On January 16, 1982, he married Paula Steward and together they had two children in two years, Stefane and Nathan, whom he loved more than he loved Oreos, hot sauce, and Coke Zero…and that’s saying something.

Steve worked for many years at the Water Treatment Plant for the City of Plainview. His family saw him adorned in blue work shirts more than any other piece of clothing for many years of his life, even on his days off.

A gentle giant, he loved animals of any kind, but cats and dogs in particular. He was the neighborhood stray feeder and cared for any critter that crossed his path.

Steve loved 1) good food…German chocolate cake, a well-done steak, Tabasco laden anything… 2) good coffee…Folgers was just fine with some powdered creamer and lots of sugar 3) good music…Phil Collins, Jimmy Buffett, Gordon Lightfoot, Enya, Yanni, or Lionel Richie were always some of his go-to tunes and 4) good people. Steve never met a stranger. He loved his daily trips to Allsups or Wal-Mart just for the simple fact that he usually saw someone he knew and would get the chance to stop and shoot the breeze.

He was a big guy with a big heart, and his absence has left a big hole in all of ours.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Flem and Alene; and a sister and brother-in-law, Delores Jean (Ernest) Lancaster. He is survived by his sister Donna (Mike) Klein of Lubbock; his brother Bobby (Bobbiette) Hedrick of Brownfield; his daughter Stefane (Wrex) Phipps of Sedgwick, CO; his son Nathan (Hillary Duran) Hedrick of Atlanta, GA; five little lights of his life, his grandchildren – Sawyer (11), Wryder (8), Sayble (6), and Syenna (1) Phipps, and Nehemiah Hedrick (9); his cat, Bucket; special friends, Arthur, Andria, and Amber Guzman; his ex-wife and life-long friend, Paula Turner; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

A memorial service is scheduled for Thursday, January 13, at 10:00am in the Kornerstone Funeral Directors Chapel.