James "Jim" Hedges

     James “Jim” Hedges, age 85, a resident of Portland, passed away on Monday, January 23, 2023 at Fairway Village Nursing Home in Indianapolis. 

     Jim was born on January 6, 1938, in Bluffton, the son of Hubert and Georgia Edwinna (McCarty) Hedges.  He graduated from Pennville High School in 1955 and attended Ball State Teachers College. Jim married Carol Elliott on August 20, 1961. 

     Jim was a veteran of the National Guard and worked for Occidental in Bryant, Lyon’s Buick, Farm Bureau, City of Portland as Street Superintendent and Mayor from 2000-2004 and a funeral assistant at Williamson and Spencer Funeral Home.  He was a member of Asbury United Methodist Church, Portland Breakfast Optimist Club, Portland Lions Club, Jaycee’s, Portland Kiwanis Club and American Legion Post #211 of Portland.

Survivors include:

His wife of 61 years:  Carol Hedges – Portland, Indiana

3 children:  Brian Hedges (wife Lori) – Cumberland, Indiana

                   Steven Hedges (wife Lisa) – Indianapolis, Indiana

                   Karin Somers (husband Ron) – Portland, Indiana

daughter-in-law:  Judy Hedges – Portland, Indiana

2 brothers:  Thomas Hedges (wife Diane) – Gallatin, Tennessee

                    Donovan Mac Hedges (wife Jody) – Syracuse, Indiana

8 grandchildren:  Calvin Hedges (wife Brittany), Mackenzie Hedges (fiancé Jake Hester), Lauren Hedges, Erica Hedges, Candler Hedges, Lilly Hedges, Nicholas Patterson and Spencer Patterson (wife Brooke)

3 great-grandchildren:  Grant Hedges, Luke Hedges and Maverick Patterson

     He was preceded in death by his son, Mark Hedges and a brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Beverly Hedges.

     Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2-5 p.m.. at Asbury United Methodist Church in Portland.  Funeral services will be held on Monday at 11 a.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church in Portland.  Pastor Joe Boggs will officiate and burial will follow at IOOF Twin Hill Cemetery in Pennville.  American Legion Post #211 of Portland will conduct military graveside rites.  

     Memorials may be directed towards Asbury United Methodist Church or Jay County Historical Society. 

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