Joan Frances Hedgecock

Joan was born on June 4, 1929, to William and Uvaun Tuffs in Grand Rapids, where she later met Lawrence “Larry” Hedgecock, the love of her life, on a blind date. The pair married in 1952, spending 65 wonderful years together. Larry passed in 2017, still professing himself a lucky man to have had Joan as his soul-mate.

Throughout her life, Joan had a passion for music. Starting at Creston High School, she began singing in choirs and as a soloist. You could always find her humming, whistling, or singing a tune.

She and Larry raised their three children in the Pittsburgh area but returned to Michigan to spend their retirement on Murray Lake in Lowell, where they spent twenty-six years relaxing with friends and family, playing cards, taking pontoon boat rides, entertaining their six grandchildren, and cheering on the Steelers, Penn State, and MSU.

Though an excellent cook, Joan was happy to give up meal prep as she and Larry moved into Sentinel Pointe Senior Living in 2014. On Fridays, however, you could still find her back in Lowell for her weekly hair appointment with Kim before going out to lunch with whoever was in town.

Joan’s love for music, caring nature, and quiet spunk will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by: husband, Lawrence “Larry” Hedgecock; parents, William and Uvaun Tuffs; sisters, Vivian Ranville and Gloria Jackson; brother, Lloyd Tuffs; and son-in-law, Thomas Senge.

Joan is lovingly survived by: children, Ann Senge, Matt (Laura) Hedgecock, and Yvonne “Bonnie” (Bruce) Grau; grandchildren, Breanna (Matthew) Kudo, Teresa Crawford (Peter Burbink), Nathaniel (Tracy) Hedgecock, Joshua Hedgecock, Madalyn Grau (Adam Ringlund), and Collin (Justice) Grau; great-grandchildren, Owen Crawford, and Jaxson Grau; brother, William (Ellamae) Tuffs; as well as many nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 582 Lamoreaux Dr. NW, Comstock Park, MI 49321. The family will welcome guests one hour prior to the start of the service. Joan will be laid to rest at Fairplains Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Zion Lutheran Church of Comstock Park, Joan’s church family for over twenty-five years.