Hadley Francis Hendrick Jr's Obituary
Hadley Francis Hendrick Jr. was born on April 26, 1933, in Kansas City, Missouri,
He is preceded in death by his mother, Cleo Forest Lee Hendrick and his father, Hadley Francis Hendrick Sr.
Hadley spent his younger years in Kansas City and Florida. He attended college at University of Miami at Coral Gables, Florida where he majored in Engineering. While in college, Hadley had unusual jobs including modelling for national advertising campaigns. He moved to California after graduation and applied his engineering skills working at IBM, Teledyne, and Lockheed where he focused on rocket propulsion and testing. Hadley had a love for the California beach and, after retirement, started a real estate company, Beachfront Properties. He became one of the most successful realtors in Oxnard, California specializing in Oceanfront properties. Hadley could often be found in the early morning eating breakfast and reading the paper on Hollywood Beach at Mrs. Olsen’s diner.
Hadley was focused on his health and said that he had worked out every day since he was 18.
Hadley had a love for cars – especially fast ones. One year, he drove his Thunderbird from California to Longview for one of his Texas visits. His car license plates were “sand for sale”.
Hadley stayed very close with his aunt, Jo Lee Smith ….and his cousins, Pat McGuffin, Bobby Smith and Eric Lee Posey. He would spend most holidays in Longview visiting the Smith and McGuffin families. Hadley moved to Longview to be closer to family Mike McGuffin, Susan McGuffin Wallace, Peggy McGuffin Vaughan, Larry McGuffin, Donna Smith Ward, and Kelly Smith Lugar.
Hadley was a self-taught musician who wrote songs, played many instruments including the guitar, a ukelele - but his favorite instrument was the harmonica. He was a member of a music group, Buffalo Chips, in the 70/80’s. He led the 4th of July parade through Hollywood Beach, Oxnard playing his harmonica. He brought his harmonicas to Longview and often took one to his doctor visits to serenade the nurse and doctor.
Our Family wants to say thank you very much to the doctors and friends and caregivers for their care and friendship.
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