ETHEL LAVERNE HENDRICK 1938-2022

Ethel Laverne Hendrick, 83, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away on June 29, 2022.

Born in Alpine, TX, Laverne was a 7th generation Texan, and the third of four children of J.L. “Rip” and Fay Riley. When Laverne was young, her family lived in several small towns across the Lone Star State while her dad supervised construction of countless highways and roads that allowed the state’s farmers and travelers to get off dirt paths. As a youngster, Laverne enjoyed playing sports, playing in the school band, and being a camp counselor and certified swim instructor. She also excelled as a baton twirler and instructor, and continued performing baton tricks

throughout her life - including many Fourth of July evenings with lit sparklers taped to the ends of her baton. When Laverne was a teenager, her family settled down in Canyon, TX, where she graduated high school, and went on to earn a BBA degree from West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M Univ.). While attending WTSU, Laverne met her soul mate, John “Harold” Hendrick, and they later wed in the campus chapel. Laverne often said how happy she was to marry Harold and be his sweetheart on a journey that lasted 61 years until his passing in 2020. Laverne was devoted to her family, and loved being mother to her two sons, and absolutely adored being a grandmother and great grandmother. When her boys were young, she became a full-time mom, and volunteered for many roles, including Cub Scout Den Mother, PTA board member, Demolay Mother’s Club, and “Team Mom” for many of the boys’ sports. Road trips were the highlight of the family’s year, and Laverne cherished the trips back to Texas. Many summers and Christmas vacations were spent at her parent’s house, gathering with all the Riley relatives and enjoying homemade ice cream, fresh watermelon, and lots of domino games. Always an avid learner, Laverne obtained her Nevada Real Estate License and kept it active for decades, and she also took many continuing education courses in Hotel Studies, Travel, and Education at UNLV. When her boys were grown, Laverne re-entered the workforce and held several jobs in the travel and entertainment industry. Throughout most of the 1980’s, she worked with great friends at Mickey Cole Travel located inside the front of Caesar’s Palace. In 1990, Laverne and Harold formed Falcon Equipment, where they sold and brokered heavy drilling and mining equipment for many years. Along with her role at Falcon, Laverne began working full-time in 1993 as the Executive Receptionist for MGM Grand, Inc., when the MGM Grand Hotel was still being built. Over the next 26 years, she held many roles at MGM, and worked there until just before her 81st birthday. Everyone who went to MGM’S executive offices knew Laverne by her bright smile and warm personality. Laverne is survived by her two sons, Greg Hendrick (Jody) and Kirk Hendrick (Andrea), and

her four grandchildren, Shanez (Hendrick) and husband Sam Mulliner, Tony Hendrick, Chase Hendrick, and Kyla Hendrick; and her two great grandchildren, Thomas Mulliner and Colton

Mulliner. She is also survived by her loving sisters-in-law, Betty Hendrick, Patricia Riley, and Janet Riley, and many nephews and nieces and their children.

Laverne was preceded in death by her husband, Harold, her parents Rip and Fay Riley, her brothers Eddie Joe Riley and Lewis Bonnell Riley, and her sister

Nancy Mckinney. Before she passed, Laverne told loved ones to not linger in sadness when her journey should end, but rather celebrate a life well-lived. She often said how blessed she was to have a life full of family and friends - and we were blessed to have her in our lives. A memorial service for Laverne and Harold, a U.S. Army Veteran, will be held by the family in the future at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery.