Sally Hedges

SALLY STAMATS HEDGES

Cedar Rapids

Sally Stamats Hedges, 88, was born July 17, 1926, in Cedar Rapids, and died peacefully in her home on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014.

Sally attended Johnson and Franklin schools in Cedar Rapids and the Walnut Hill School in Natick, Mass. She graduated from University of Michigan, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. In 1948, she married Horace G. "Fed" Hedges and devoted the rest of her life to her family and community.

She was a member of Junior League of Cedar Rapids, volunteered her time at Jane Boyd Community Center and the free health clinic, was affiliated with the Kenmore Plantation in Virginia as a board member and was a loyal member of the Marvin Cone Art Club in Cedar Rapids. She served for many years on the board of Stamats Communications, the company her father founded 90 years ago. Throughout her life, Sally was an avid supporter and lover of the arts.

At 18-months-old, Sally was Grant Wood's first portrait subject ("Portrait of Sally") and was later featured as the precocious 2-year-old in Wood's Overmantel Decoration, working on it at the same time he was painting American Gothic. Both are now part of the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art's permanent collection. Many of Sally's younger years during the winter were spent at Smoke Tree Ranch, Calif., and she adored her summers at Northport Point, Mich. Known for her great spunk, vibrant energy and fun-loving personality, Sally held her family, friends and pets at the center of her long, wonderful life.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Fed; her parents, Isabel and Herbert Stamats; and brother, Peter O. Stamats.

She is survived by her four children, Tom Hedges (Cedar Rapids); daughters, Sarah Richardson (Mount Vernon), Nancy Mahany (Indianapolis, Ind,), and Mary Seyfer (Cedar Rapids); and their respective spouses, Debbie Hedges, Roland Richardson, Dick Mahany and Greg Seyfer.

"Nanny" is also survived by her beloved grandchildren, Tom (Laura), Mac (Silke) and Isabel Hedges; Annabelle (Ben) Apley and Sam (Sarah) Richardson; Peter, Ted and Charlie (Beth) Wendler; and Andrew, David and Sally Timmons.

She is survived by her six great-grandchildren, Peter, Clara, Kate, Vivian, Grace and Samantha; nephews, Peter and Bill Stamats; and David, Dan and Doug Hedges; and sister-in-law, Susan Stamats.

Charitable donations may be made to Theatre Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, dogsforever@netins.net; or the charity of your choice.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.