Ozark Bank owner and chairwoman emeritus Chlorene Hedgpeth, 94, died suddenly Christmas Eve.
Visitation is 4:30-6:30 p.m. Dec. 28 at Adam's Funeral Home, 504 W. Walnut St., Ozark. A private memorial service will be held in the home. Hedgpeth will be cremated and interred in Ozark City Cemetery.
"Chlorene was one classy lady and a great mentor," said JaDonna Rice, a longtime Ozark Bank employee and friend. "She was more than a boss to me. She loved Ozark. The bank and Ozark will miss her deeply."
Born June 28, 1918, Hedgpeth was a lifelong resident of Christian County, a 1936 graduate of Ozark High School and resided in Ozark her entire life.
According to her obituary, Hedgpeth, "was well known for her dedication to her family and friends and for her unwavering commitment to Ozark Bank where she served in many capacities, most recently as chairman emeritus.
"Never retiring, she worked every day for 53 years at the bank. For nearly 50 of those years, she was the first to arrive and the last to leave. She greeted customers by name and always wished them a good day."
Hedgpeth was recently honored by the Missouri Bankers Association as a 50-year member, was involved with the Missouri State Banking Board, Missouri Bankers Association, Missouri Women Bankers, Missouri Independent Bankers Association and Independent Community Bankers of America.
She also has served the Ozark community with terms on boards of the Ozark Community Action Center, the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program and chairwoman of the Christian County Republican Party for more than 15 years.
According to OzarkBank.com, the first bank was established in 1906 as Ozark Savings Bank by 15 local investors contributing $10,000 in stock. The bank opened with five directors and a staff of four employees. Hedgpeth took over the bank when her husband died in 1975.
To celebrate its centennial in 2006, Ozark Bank officials committed a sum of $100,000 during a five-year period to the Finley River Community Foundation and the Nixa Community Foundation.
Today, the bank has four locations in Nixa and Ozark, 58 employees and assets of $185,941,000 as of Sept. 30, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Hedgpeth's son, John Hedgpeth II, is current chairman and CEO, and daughter Laura J. Haseltine serves as vice chairman and chief operating officer.
In lieu of flowers, family members have established a memorial fund in her name with the Finley River Community Foundation: Chlorene Hedgpeth Fund, PO Box 1176, Ozark, MO 65721, or in care of the funeral home.
