Imogene Redd Hess

Imogene Redd Hess, loving mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend passed away peacefully surrounded by family at the age of 94 in San Diego, CA. Jimmie was born in Blanding, UT, to Amasa Jay and Alice Marie Ekins Redd. She was the oldest of six children, Wyman H., Stephen E., Alene Redd Roberts, A. Mason, and J. Whitney Redd. Preceding her in death are her parents, brothers Wyman and Stephen, and husband, Benjamin K. Hess. She accompanied her parents on two LDS missions to California before she was 10 years old. There she had her first exposure to dancing lessons. She became her mother's right arm in helping at home and with younger siblings. At the age of 15 she cared for the home and three younger siblings while her parents travelled. Her role in the family engendered devotion to them throughout her life. She graduated from Utah State University in 1937 in Physical Education which department was the umbrella for the dance program. It was there that she met Benjamin Knowlton Hess. Ben said, "Anything is pretty, as long as it is Redd." They were married in 1942 and their family now includes three daughters, Lindalee (Lindy) (Rich) Anderson, Stephanie Hess, and Benni Kay Connally, 10 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren. Ben volunteered for army service during WWII and she accompanied him on his various assignments until he was sent overseas. Her dad asked her to return home to help him in his L.H. Redd Mercantile. When Ben returned from the war, they made their home in Monticello where he developed his own love for San Juan County. She worked hard and played well. Ben and Jimmie were the proprietors of Hess Motor Lodge, Silver Coin Laundromats in Monticello, Chinle and Ganado, Arizona and other businesses. She was one of the first women to jeep Canyonlands National Park along with Thelma Walton and Mildred Odette. She was introduced to river running on the San Juan and Colorado with friends, Norman and Doris Nevills, the area's first commercial river guides. Her tender touch, unmatched dinner rolls, caramel popcorn, open-door policy, and unconditional love will be dearly missed. As Jimmie left the Afula, Israel hospital, the non-English speaking caregivers offered their farewell to her in quickly-learned English, "Lovely lady, we love you."

Imogene Redd Hess

September 13, 1919 - November 13, 2013