Judy Ann Merritt Hendrickson

Judy Ann Merritt Hendrickson, 59, of La Grande, died July 3, 2006, at the Grande Ronde Hospital. A funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Island City Ward, off of Cove Avenue and Gekeler Lane. Due to an air-conditioning problem, her funeral will not be conducted at her ward, but at the Island City ward.

Mrs. Hendrickson was born in Hastings, Nebraska, august 11, 1946, the only child of Emerson Lee Merritt and Florence Ann Theisen. She grew up in Nebraska for her first five years. With her parents, she moved during her childhood to Iowa, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, New York, Florida and Arizona before settling in La Grande. She married Harvey Leon Hendrickson on October 9, 1968, in Moses Lake, Washington. The two had a civil ceremony, and the next day left for Logan, Utah for a temple sealing on October 11. Their honeymoon took them across the country to New York, where Leon was stationed with the Army at West Point. Three months after their wedding, Leon was sent to Vietnam where he was seriously wounded. After Leon was discharged, the couple lived in Moses Lake for a few years before moving to La Grande with their two children. More children were added after the move. All the Hendrickson children attended Riveria School. Mrs. Hendrickson was active in the PTA, serving on many committees and as president twice. She enjoyed reading and would visit first grade class weekly to read to the children.

Mrs. Hendrickson was also active in the church. She served as Mother Education leader, as Junior Sunday School teacher, Mia Maid Leader, YW president, ward and stake activities cultural arts specialist, secretary, counselor and president in primary, youth and Gospel Doctrine teacher, Cub Scout den leader and Enrichment leader. The greatest loves of Mrs. Hendrickson's life were the Gospel, her husband and her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband; children and their spouses, Craig and Trish Hendrickson of Colville, Washington, Staci and Travis Armstrong of La Grande, Jamie and Irene Hendrickson of Pilot Rock, Todd and Camille Hendrickson of Everett, Washington, Darren and Shauna Hendrickson of La Grande, Alisa and Aqeel Rasheed of San Diego, California and Mandy Hendrickson of La Grande; 20 grandchildren and a step-brother, Robert Merritt. She was preceded in death by a step-brother, Paul Willis.