Services Set For Former Person Of Year Gaines Hedges

Paris, Tenn.–Former Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce Person of the Year Gaines Wyley Hedges, age 67 of Paris died Thursday, January 24, at Paris Health Care Nursing and Rehab Center. He worked as a sales representative for WENK/WTPR for over a dozen years.

Hedges loved Paris and was a tireless promoter of downtown Paris, serving with the Downtown Paris Association since its beginning.

Hedges  was a self-employed marketing consultant and was an insurance agent for many years. He was a graduate of Grove High School class of 1969 and was graduated from Union University in 1973 where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.

A past president of the Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce,  Hedges was named Person of Year in 2010. Beginning in 2012, Gaines took great pride in working with Charles Hopkins at the Toggery thru its 100^th anniversary and the sale of the business to its new owners.

He is survived by his wife Becky Myatt Hedges, of Paris, whom he married on June 9, 1995.

Born November 13, 1951, in Paris, TN, he was the son of the late Gaines Dalton Hedges and the late Nettie Beatrice Nanney Hedges.

Along with his wife he is survived by his daughter, Heather (Randy) Bastyr of Paris; his son, Jess (Candy) Hedges of Paris; a brother, Joe Hedges (Ches Clark) of Frankfort, KY; a stepdaughter, Pam (Frank) Heathman of Hermitage; a stepson, Brad Saylor of Paris; three grandchildren, Carter Benjamin Hedges, Reagan Faith Bastyr, and Corrye Blaire Hedges; four step-grandchildren, Rachel Bastyr, Callon Conger, Colson Conger, and Cameron Heathman; and a special cousin, Linda Sue Crutcher and her family.

Arrangements will be handled by Ridgeway Funeral Home, 201 Dunlap St., Paris, TN, 38242.  He is to be cremated.   A Celebration of Life service will be held Sunday, January 27, 2019, at 3:00 pm at First Christian Church with Cory Glover officiating.  Memorial Visitation will be Sunday from 12 – 3 pm at the church.

Memorials may be made to:  The Gaines Hedges Family, c/o Ridgeway Funeral Home, 201 Dunlap St, PO Box 788, Paris, TN  38242.