Claire Beth Hedgcock

HEDGCOCK, CLAIRE BETH, 90, a resident of Fruitland Park, FL for 35 years, died on the 16th of September 2024. Born on Aug. 28th 1934 in Washington DC, she was the youngest and last surviving child of Dr. Thomas David Gates, DDS and Estelle Frances Gates (McCuan). She graduated in 1952 from Calvin Coolidge High School in Washington DC and received her Bachelor of Arts from Western Maryland College (now MCDaniel College) in Westminster, MD. She met her husband of 65 years, Colonel Robert Eugene Hedgcock at college, marrying in Dec of 1956. Claire and Gene had three children Andrea, Kathryn and Thomas. They moved with the military every 12-18 months to TX, KS, VA, PA and had multiple tours in Germany. Claire and the children stayed in Maryland when Gene had tours in Korea and Vietnam. Claire worked in VA and NJ as a realtor. When Gene retired they moved to Fruitland Park FL and Claire worked for ERA Keith Shamrock Reality and John C Thomas Reality where in 1999 she achieved one Million in sales. Claire was an advocate for mental health and volunteered with the Lake / Sumter National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (AMI), the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), Lake / Sumter Mental Heath Hospital Foundation, and Lifestream Foundation where she served on the Executive Board of Directors. She was honored by the Leesburg Business and Professional Women’s Club with their Woman of the Year Achievement Award and also honored by Lake / Sumter Mental Health Hospital Foundation as Citizen Advocate of the Year for her volunteer work with the mentally ill and serving as a point of contact for families who were in need of help. Claire was was a lifetime Washington Redskins fan and an avid newspaper reader, collector of blue and white dishes and European treasures from her travels. She and Gene also collected quite a few orange tabby cats. Claire is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her sibling Estelle Louise Hislop. She is survived by her three children, daughter Andrea Purdon and her husband Dr. Robert Purdon, daughter Kathryn Keeton and her husband Karl, son Thomas Hedgcock and his wife Kim; three grandchildren Mariel Purdon, Kyle Purdon, and Dr. Kira Purdon Hess and her husband David; three great grandchildren Kayden Purdon, Beckett Hess, and Adley Hess, and her beloved orange tabby cats Swifty and Sunny. The Hedgcock family sends sincere thanks to neighbors, friends, relatives, Hospice, and Waterman staff for their prayers and support these past weeks. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Lifestream Behavioral Center, AIMS Program, Post Office Box 491000, Leesburg, FL 34749 at (352) 315-7500 libc.net and/or Tavares Cornerstone Hospice 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares, FL 32778 (866) 742-6655. cornerstonehospice.org Visitation will be Saturday September 21st 1-3pm at Beyers Funeral Home and Crematory, Lady Lake, FL.

Claire Beth Hedgcock

August 28, 1934 - September 16, 2024