Lance Hedges

Lance Hedges

Lance Hedges, age 46, of Garnett, Kan., passed away Oct. 9, 2014 at Anderson County Hospital.

Richard Lance Hedges was born Nov. 9, 1967, in Columbus, Kan. He was the eldest of two sons born to Dick and Karen (Prather) Hedges. Lance grew up in Fort Scott, Kan., where he graduated from high school in 1986. He then went on to attend the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., for two years before transferring to Kansas State University. In 1991, he graduated from K-State with his bachelor's degree in wildlife management. On Aug. 31, 1991, he married Stacey Wilson in Satanta, Kan. This union was blessed with three children. They made their home in Norton, Kan., where Lance worked for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks as a wildlife biologist at the Keith Sebelius Reservoir. In the summer of 2001, they moved to Garnett, Kan. Lance then worked as a district wildlife biologist and public lands supervisor for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. In 2012, Lance began working for The Nature Conservancy as the director of conservation for the State of Kansas. He was a dedicated employee who shared and taught his passion to conserving wild Kansas. He enjoyed every day of his professional life and was often heard telling friends and family that he had the best job in the world.

Lance was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Garnett and the Garnett Rotary Club. He was a devoted husband to the love of his life, Stacey, and was always very proud to call her his wife. He was a kind and loving father to his kids, Cale, Remington, and Riley, and was so proud of all their accomplishments. He was very involved with his family's activities, whether he was coaching his kids or just cheering them on. As he was coaching his kids, he would often be working with other kids young and old, coaching and teaching life lessons through the community recreation programs. Leading church Bible school and the church youth group were also a highlight in his life. He loved the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing and trapping. He spent many hours with his family teaching them to hunt, fish, garden, and whatever mischief they could get into. And every adventure led to a story and laughing memories. They were definitely a "K-State Family" and greatly enjoyed going to the K-State football games together. Lance was considered a "best" friend and never met a stranger. He always had a smile on his face and a joke to tell. Laughter was in abundance whenever Lance was in the room. His zest for life and love of people made him who he was and he will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Lance was preceded in death by his mother, Karen, on Aug. 31, 2006, and by his father-in-law, Carl Wilson, on Oct. 24, 2011.

Lance is survived by his wife, Stacey, of the home; children, Cale Hedges, student at Emporia State, Remington and Riley Hedges, of the home; his father, Dick Hedges and wife, Jan, of Fort Scott; brother, Kyle Hedges and wife, Tina, and three nieces, Taylor, Kennedy, and McKinley of Bolivar, Mo.; his mother-in-law, Carol Wilson of Satanta; and his sister-in-law, Kim Skinner, and husband Tim, and four nephews, Andy, Chet, Tate and Luke.

The family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel, 219 S. Oak, Garnett, Kan.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church, Garnett.

A prayer service will be held in Fort Scott at 2:30 p.m. at Cheney Witt Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Scott.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Lance Hedges Memorial Fund for a children's education fund and future conservation development in Kansas and sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.