Gary Chesterfield Hendricks

October 9, 1929 – July 17, 2018

Gary Chesterfield Hendricks, much-loved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, uncle and friend went to be with his Lord Jesus Christ (and his beloved Elsie) on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. He was hospitalized at Samaritan that morning and passed away at 10:30 p.m. that same day. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 8., 2018 at the Moses Lake Presbyterian Church. Sign online guestbook at www.kayserschapel.com. Arrangements in care of Kayser’s Chapel & Crematory.

Gary was born in Chelan, Wash. on Oct. 9, 1929 to parents Clifford and Josephine (Smith) Hendricks. He spent his early childhood in Chelan, then the family moved to Okanogan, where a sister, Glenna, was added to the household, and Gary enrolled in elementary school as a fifth-grader. In the first few days of that school year, Dad met his future wife, Elsie Hamilton, when she tackled him during a recess football game.

While father Cliff ranched and worked for Washington Water Power as an electrician, and mother Josephine operated a popular ice cream parlor in town, Gary embarked on his career in education as a student and athlete. He starred in football, basketball and track and managed to pass all his classes. He also continued his relationship with Elsie Hamilton. At the end of their high school careers, they both decided to enroll at Eastern Washington State College, Gary as a basketball player on scholarship, and Elsie as an education major.

Before the beginning of their sophomore year, they decided that school would be a lot more fun if they were married and living together. It was! Elsie continued to excel in her classes and Gary became a standout player on the basketball team. Then son Chris arrived on May 21, 1950. Even more fun!

Although Gary had to give up basketball before his junior year because of medical concerns, both persevered and graduated with teaching degrees. They moved to tiny Riverside (just north of Omak) and began lifelong careers in education at the start of the 1951-52 school year. After two years, Dad was hired to teach in Coulee Dam, and more importantly coach his beloved basketball for the Beavers.

Gary was an excellent teacher and basketball coach. Elsie stayed home with Chris, and in September 1954 daughter Janice joined the family. We spent four great years in Coulee Dam, and during those summers, Dad worked and went to school to earn his principal’s credential.

In 1958, Gary was offered a principals position in Twisp, Wash. The lure of a higher salary persuaded him to give up coaching and take the job. The family spent just two years in Twisp, with the highlight of our time there being the arrival of son Don in 1959.

In 1960 another, better-paying job opportunity came up for Gary in Ephrata, and the family moved again. Gary was principal of Parkway Elementary and the district Special Education school for three years, from 1960 to 1963.

Dad liked the challenge of moving and taking on new assignments, so when the Moses Lake School District offered the principal’s position at Lakeview Elementary to him just before the start of the 1963-64 school year, he jumped at the chance. The family moved to 1111 Skyline Dr. and we finally settled. Gary and Elsie spent the next 50-plus years in that home and Chris, Janice and Don all went through Moses Lake schools and graduated from Moses Lake High School.

Gary was an outstanding principal. After four very good years at Lakeview, Gary was asked to take charge of elementary education for the district, a position he held for the next 17 years. He retired in 1981 after 30 years in education.

During those same years, Gary was also a very active sportsman and golfer. He harvested innumerable pheasants, ducks and geese all over Grant County, and numbers of deer and elk in the Northwest and in Canada. He won the Moses Lake Country Club championship on three occasions, and made quite a bit of money from friendly matches with his buddies.

After Gary and Elsie both retired, they spent the rest of their lives being wonderful parents and grandparents, traveled all over the United States, and had a retirement that lasted longer than their working years. They loved each other deeply, became pillars of the Moses Lake Presbyterian Church and maintained strong friendships with many in the community.

Gary’s heart was broken when his beloved wife Elsie passed in 2015. He lived alone at 1111 Skyline until 2017, when a combination of a severe illness and loneliness persuaded him to accept daughter Janice’s offer to come and live with her at her new home in Stratford Estates, Moses Lake. Late that year, Dad’s heart was broken again when son Don died. The close support of family and friends was very important and appreciated so much by him. In 2018 Gary was signed up for Hospice Care to better support his battle with kidney disease and a blood disorder. He enjoyed many special days in Janice’s home and visiting with other family and friends, until his kidneys finally gave out.

In our last conversation, our father whispered his confession of having “done some bad things” and of “not being ready to be a father.” He was assured that God had forgiven his sins and loved him, and that all of his family and friends loved him too. And those were the last words we shared.

Gary Chesterfield Hendricks was an imperfect, but good man, who Christ made perfect. He is very much missed by all who knew him and loved him.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents Cliff and Josephine Hendricks, his mother and father-in-law, Laura (Graves) and Earl Hamilton, brother and sister-in-law George and Norma Hamilton, brother-in-law Dick Laughbon and son Don Hendricks.

Gary is survived by beloved sister Glenna Laughbon; son Chris (Lori) Hendricks; daughter Janice (Duane) Rooker; grandchildren Scott (Nikki) Mackey, Maren (Mac) Hoglund, Pam Mackey, Jennifer (Jesse) Martin, Shawn Hendricks, Sarah Hendricks, Shai Hendricks, Samantha (Darren) Stubbs and Madeline Hendricks; great-grandchildren Cassidy (Erick),Emeri, Devon, MacKenna, Henry, Faye, Finn, Rowan, Posie, and David and great-great-grandchild Jaxynn and Hamilton, Rubstello and Laughbon family brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.