Lorna Spencer Hedges

Lorna Spencer Hedges, age 97, died peacefully at her home in the early hours of October 7, bringing to a close a long life distinguished by extensive travel, voluntary service, and a passionate interest in the arts.

Born on March 2, 1927 to parents Ken and Billie Spencer, Lorna was the second of four siblings growing up on a farm outside St. John, Kansas. She moved to California in 1944 at age 17 to attend Stanford University. Completing her studies up into her junior year, Lorna left school to wed Ellis Walton (“Walt”) Hedges III, to whom she remained married until his death in 2001. Together they had a daughter, Nicole, who was born in 1953. Lorna’s talents and ample energy, however, could not be confined to the role of a mother and housewife, and she early found an outlet for them outside the home in church activities and the PTA.

From there a lifelong interest in the fine arts led Lorna in 1969 to become a member and volunteer at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. There, among many other roles and committee assignments over the years, she served as a docent, President of the Docent Council, and as Secretary and Vice President of the museum’s Board of Trustees. She was elected a Life Honorary Trustee in 1997 and is remembered for her active participation in a number of major projects and programs at the Museum, one of the most notable being the founding of the Ridley-Tree Education Center at McCormick House.

Arts education was very important to Lorna’s sense of social mission, In addition to her work at the Museum of Art, she was an avid supporter of the Music Academy of the West, where she was a scholarship donor and an enthusiastic participant in the Academy’s compeer program. Lorna was also involved the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, where she established the Lorna Hedges Art Scholarship Fund to recognize outstanding student photography.

Lorna was known and valued for bringing enthusiasm, intelligence, and organizational savvy to any cause or project she was involved with. What was perhaps her greatest gift, however, was her ability to form strong, mutually caring relationships with the people around her. She will be remembered as someone who brought a little light to a lot of lives, a legacy that will live on in the hearts of her family and many friends for years to come.

Lorna is survived by a daughter, Nicole Spencer of Denver, Colorado. In accordance with her mother’s final wishes, Nicole has announced that no funeral or memorial services are planned to mark Lorna’s passing. The family looks forward, instead, to organizing an informal celebration of life to be held at a date and location yet to be determined. Details will be made available as plans are finalized.