Marian Kay (Patterson) Hedges

Kay attended school in Eskridge and Topeka, Kansas. She graduated from Salina Kansas High School, cum laude from Colorado Women’s College and earned BM and MM degrees from Kansas State University where she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and Mu Phi Epsilon fraternity.

A lifelong educator, Kay taught Elementary Music in Phillipsburg, KS and Vocal Music in Colby, Kansas high school, prior to her marriage to Gerald Hedges in Salina, Kansas, on December 26, 1960. They moved to Oklahoma City in 1961 and Kay had a 20-plus year career in Music Education with Oklahoma City Public Schools, starting with TV instruction on KETA (Channel 13), conducting in-service workshops to teachers and making classroom visitations to elementary schools as Vocal Music Consultant. After retiring, Kay was an active member in service of the Oklahoma County Retired Educator’s Association (OCREA).

Having dedicated her life to music professionally and through faith, Kay was a member of and leader within Mu Phi Epsilon, Delta Kappa Gamma, McDowell Music Club, OKC Ladies Music Club and Nouvea Livre Book Club. She sang in the choir at All Souls Episcopal Church for 43 years and was a soloist and choir member in Canterbury Choral Society and the B’nai Israel Temple for over 20 years. She taught private voice to many students who have become fine soloist and musical leaders in their school and church choirs. A member of All Souls Episcopal church since 1973, she wrote a 25-year history for years 26-50 of the church and she and her husband were the first couple to receive the Rector’s Annual Award.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Sharon Melko, of Cheyenne, WY and is survived by her devoted husband of 59 years, Gerry, of Oklahoma City; two loving daughters, Dia Burroughs (Don), of Wichita, KS, and Marta Hedges, of Yukon, OK; a brother, John Patterson, of Salina, KS; brothers-in-law Edward Melko, of Cheyenne, WY, John D Hedges (Clarice), of Albuquerque, NM, Dale Hedges, of Central City, NE, Wayne Hedges, of Pontiac IL, and Ned (Eola) Hedges, of Lincoln, NE; seventeen nieces and nephews and their families; and numerous other beloved relatives and friends.

Memorial services for Kay will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, July 23, 2020, at All Souls Episcopal Church, 6400 N Pennsylvania followed by interment in the church columbarium. Masks and social distancing practices are mandatory for all visitors. The live video of the service can be seen at http://facebook.com/allsoulsokc and will be officiated by the Reverend Graham Marsh with music by Laura van der Windt and choristers.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to All Souls Episcopal Church (http://www.allsoulsokc.com) or Canterbury Voices (http://canterburyokc.com).