The Wonderful Life of Linda LaRee Gines Hedges

Early Life and Family

Linda LaRee Gines was born on May 31, 1947, in Bountiful, Utah, to Don J Gines and Esther LaRee Thayne Gines. As the eldest of four sisters, Linda grew up in a close-knit family with her siblings Cathy, Deon, and Terry. Her childhood was filled with the joys and challenges of being the oldest sister, often helping her parents and looking out for her younger siblings.

Education and Marriage

Linda graduated from Bountiful High School, where she developed a love for learning and made many lifelong friends. Shortly after high school, she married Rodney Bateman Hedges, Sr., embarking on a new chapter in her life. Rodney, known as Rod, had enlisted in the Army, and the young couple moved to Virginia, where Rod was stationed.

Raising a Family

In Virginia, Linda and Rod welcomed their three children: Andrea, Rod Jr., and Don. Linda’s years in Virginia were marked by the joys of motherhood and the challenges of military life. After Rod completed his service, the Hedges family returned to Utah, where they eventually settled in Sandy.

Professional Life

Linda pursued a career as a respiratory therapist, a profession that allowed her to combine her nurturing nature with her passion for helping others. She worked at LDS Hospital and later at Whitmore Oxygen, where she was known for her dedication and compassion towards her patients.

Faith and Community

A lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Linda’s faith was a cornerstone of her life. In 1982, she and Rod were sealed in the Jordan River Temple along with their three children. Linda was active in her church community, enjoying family history work and temple visits with friends from her ward. She was also a proud member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, cherishing her heritage and contributing to the community.

Passion for Family and Hobbies

Linda’s greatest joy was her family. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, always putting her loved ones first. Linda enjoyed traveling and created many cherished memories on trips and cruises with her family. She was an avid supporter of her grandchildren’s activities, attending countless soccer, basketball, volleyball, football games, and performances. Linda was a passionate Utah Jazz fan, holding season tickets for many years, and she supported BYU sports with equal fervor.

Linda also had a love for action movies and enjoyed spending time in her garden, taking pride in her beautiful flowers. Her kind and giving nature endeared her to all who knew her, and her home was always a welcoming place for family and friends.

Legacy

Linda LaRee Gines Hedges passed away peacefully on April 12, 2024, in her home in Sandy, Utah, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Andrea Todd, and her parents, Don J Gines and Esther LaRee Gines. Linda is survived by her siblings Cathy, Deon, and Terry; her children Rod Jr. and Don; her eight grandchildren Jamie, Andy, Braxton, Patrick, Claiborne, Jackson, Stockton, and Aspen; and fifteen great-grandchildren Aaliyah, Daija, Jazmine, Skarlet, Violet, Thomas, Ambree, Benson, Caroline, Dean, Dalton, Brooke, Darrow, Lincoln, and another great-grandson on the way.

Linda’s family will celebrate her life on May 18, 2024, at the Dimple Dell Ward in Sandy, Utah. Linda will be interred at Memorial Lakeview Cemetery in Bountiful, Utah, where she will rest close to her birthplace and many of her family members.

Linda’s life was a testament to love, dedication, and faith. She touched the hearts of everyone she met, and her legacy of kindness and family devotion will live on through her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.