Melissa JoAnn Hedges

Melissa J. “Missy” Hedges, 63, of Lafayette, passed away at 1:33 p.m., Sunday February 11, 2024 at St. Elizabeth Franciscan East of an apparent heart attack.

  Missy was born March 7, 1960 in Frankfort, Indiana to Charles F. “Frank” Adams Jr. and the late Barbara J. (Wilson) Adams.  She was a 1978 graduate of Frankfort High School.

  Missy married the love of her life, Dean Hedges, on October 15, 1983 in the 1st Baptist Church of Frankfort, IN with her grandfather, Pastor Hugh Cockrum, officiating.  Missy and Dean were married for 40 years.  

  Missy worked as a Title Abstractor for Accufast Title Company in Indianapolis for 17 years.  She currently worked as a material handler at Wabash National in Lafayette.  She found the change of pace to a more manual job rewarding and fulfilling.  She was proud to be certified as a heavy equipment and forklift operator for Wabash and just last month was voted employee of the month.

  Missy enjoyed shooting and was a member of the National Rifle Association.  She was also a past member of the Lafayette Corvette Club and enjoyed showing off her 2001 Corvette.  She and Dean enjoyed riding their Gold Wing motorcycle on trips to Missouri, Pennsylvania, Brown County and covered bridge festivals; truly they enjoyed just spending time together.  

  Missy loved her cruises to the Freeport, the capital of Grand Bahama’s where Cpt. Dean would take them to go see the dolphins.  On one trip, Missy was sitting on the end of the pier with dolphins swimming all around her feet, a highlight for life.  Missy loved the ocean and the beach.   She enjoyed boating and living with Dean on Lake Schafer for 13 years.  

  Missy loved her family and took every opportunity to spend time with them.  She modeled her Christian faith through her humility and kindness to others.  She was reserved but to the point in a loving and gracious way.  She was a great cook, and her secret ingredient was love, mainly because she didn’t measure anything.  Missy enjoyed crafts, making wreaths and using her cricket machine.  She was an excellent seamstress and spent hours in the yard gardening and working on her flowers.  

  Missy was a gold medalist roller skater (like ice skating on rollers), winning many trophies and events with her mother as her coach.  She was a natural at everything; she could jump in and win at anything she wanted.  One time, she and Dean joined into a competitive corn hole competition and won, affectionately being dubbed Regis and Kathy Lee by the other participants.

  Surviving with her husband, Dean, are their children, Matthew Hedges (wife: Amanda) of Otterbein, Brandi Casselberry (husband: Chris) of Lafayette and a grandson who was raised as a son, Jordyn Hedges; her father, Frank Adams (wife: Dorothy Cheney); a brother, Tony Adams (wife: Kathy) of Kentucky and a sister, Dee Sheda of Indianapolis.  Missy loved spending time with her grandchildren, Dominick, Mason, Aalliyah, Camden, Talon, Wrigley and Weston.  

  Preceding her in death with her mother, Barbara, is a brother, Jeff Adams and a sister, Tammy Gregg.

  Friends may call from 5:00 PM (EST) until the time of Celebration of Life 7:00 PM (EST) Friday, February 16, 2024 at Hartzler-Clapper Funeral Home of Brookston. 

  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Riley Hospital for Children or Down Syndrome of Indiana.

  Share memories and online condolences at www.clapperfuneralservices.com