January 29, 1937 - August 17, 2023
Virgil "Rocky" Hedger was born January 29, 1937 in Golden Valley North Dakota. He grew up on a cattle and horse ranch and lived his early years as a true cowboy of the American West. The eldest of six children, he was a role model and protector for his family.
He came to Colorado when he was 20 years old and soon met a young lady, Mary, who was taken with his good looks and mischievous charm. He taught her how to fish -- although he had to bait the hook, take the fish off the hook, clean the fish and cook the fish! She captured his heart and they married in 1960.
When he was working at a cement company as a young man, his job was to carry mixed cement for bricklayers. He was so strong that his friends said he was "Solid as a Rock." The name stuck and he was known as 'Rocky' for the rest of his life. He maintained his rock-solid strength into his later years and helped with hard gardening work when Mary had new ideas for gardens on their property in Loveland, particularly her iris beds. Every year, after a hard day's work they would sit on the porch together and he would say, "Those are the prettiest irises I think I've ever seen."
Both of his daughters were born in California in the late 1960s. His only grandchild, Cole, was born in Texas in 1996 and grew up to become one of Rocky's best buddies. He taught Cole how to fish, appreciate and enjoy nature, tell jokes, and he was always a good sport when Cole played a good-natured prank on him.
Rocky made friends easily and was especially well-known at the Hallmark store, where he spent a lot of time picking out the perfect cards for his wife on special occasions. He was loved and will be missed by many people who knew him around town and at his church.
Rocky was preceded in death by his parents, Nathaniel and Hilda; and two of his brothers, Orval and Bob. He leaves behind his wife of 63 years, Mary (nee Enoch); His daughters, Kozette and Shelly (Jennifer); his grandson, Cole; his sister, Marion; his brothers Ken (Laurie) and Bill (Sally); many nieces and nephews and lifelong friends.
A memorial service will be held September 30th at 3:00pm at Campion Academy Seventh-Day Adventist church.
