Mary Louise Hendrickson

Mary Louise Hendrickson of Artesia, New Mexico, passed away peacefully on December 8, 2025, at her home of two years, Good Life Senior Living Center. She was known as a loving wife, mother, sister, and community leader.

Visitation will begin at 4:00 pm on Friday, December 12, 2025, at Terpening & Son Mortuary. The family will greet visitors from 4:00-6:00 pm that evening.

A memorial service is scheduled for Mary at the First Methodist Church in Artesia, New Mexico, 11:00 am Saturday, December 13, 2025.

Pastor Monty Leavell will officiate at the service. Honorary pallbearers are her grandsons, Kevin Klein, Brennan Orr, Kevin Orr, David Collier, Lance Conklin, and David Corley. She will be laid to rest at Woodbine Cemetery, at a private family graveside service immediately preceding the church service.

Mary was born on December 15, 1931, to Howard Stephen and Laura Belle Champion Denney in Wichita Falls, Texas. She grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas, where she completed high school in 1949, followed by business education at Draughon’s Business School. She married George Robert ‘Bob’ Hendrickson on June 16, 1951, in Wichita Falls, Texas. They met at the local Ford dealership when Mary needed a ride home from work.

A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Mary, found homemaking and her family to be lifelong priorities. She also worked alongside her husband, Bob, at various Ford Dealerships as a bookkeeper after their children, Janie and Susan, began attending elementary school. Mary and Bob also found time for extensive travel, many times with friends coming along.

Mary and Bob moved to Artesia, New Mexico, in 1956, to work for Williams Terry Motor Company on Main Street. They lived in Artesia just two years before returning to Wichita Falls and then moving to Lovington, New Mexico, where they continued working for Ford dealers. The family returned to Artesia in 1962, to work for Artesia Ford Sales, later purchasing the dealership with the Robert Burgess family on March 7, 1966. The Hendrickson and Burgess families remained business partners and friends throughout their careers, and the families continue that kinship today.

During her 27-year bookkeeping career, Mary attended a Dale Carnegie class, which sparked her enthusiasm for volunteer work. This included volunteer projects with her sewing expertise, benefiting community fundraisers. Other service work included the Altrusa Club of Artesia, President and Volunteer, San Pedro (Good Samaritan) Senior Center Helpers Club, President and Volunteer, Good Life Senior Center, Volunteer, and Methodist Women of the First Methodist Church.

Mary received many volunteer awards, including the Appreciation Award-Good Samaritan Center Helpers Club (2000), Artesia Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award (2003), United Methodist Women Special Mission Recognition (2006), Altrusa District Ten Governor’s Award (2016), Honorary Chapter FFA Degree (2021), among others. She was also recognized as a distinguished bridge player until most recently.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband George Robert ‘Bob’ Hendrickson, brother H. Dalton Denney, and sister Lavelle Denney Baker.

Current family members are daughters Mary Jane ‘Janie’ Orr, husband David, of Plano, Texas, and Susan Klein, husband Lex, of Artesia; grandchildren Kevin Klein, wife Hayley, of Artesia, Brennan Orr, wife Ashley, of Royse City, Texas, Kevin Orr, of San Angelo, Texas, David Collier of Cloudcroft, Cara Anne Collier, husband David Corley, of Buda, Texas, and Allison Conklin, husband Lance, of Artesia; and great-grandchildren Kaylin Klein, and Klanclie, Gus and Kamryn Louise Conklin, all of Artesia, Emerson and Oliver Orr of Royse City, Texas, Brandalynn and Lynox Orr of Shallowater, Texas, and Caroline Jane Corley of Buda, Texas.

She is also survived by sisters Helen Denney Walker of Amarillo, Texas, and Geraldine Denney Bradberry of Burkburnett, Texas, along with many nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Methodist Church of Artesia, P.O. Box 1492, Artesia, New Mexico 88211.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Terpening & Son Mortuary. Please remember Mrs. Hendrickson at www.artesiafunerals.com.