Jeanette Ryals Hendricks

Jeanette Hendricks, age 93, of Lake Butler, Florida, passed away on Monday, January 1, 2024 at Windsor Manor in Starke, Florida. Jeanette grew up in High Springs, Florida, the baby girl of Raymond and Ethel Ryals. She played basketball for the High Springs “Sandspurs” and graduated from High Springs High School in 1949. In the spring of 1951, on a visit with her brother and sister-in-law in Dunedin, she met Bryan Hendricks, a country boy from Union County who was working for the railroad after his tour of duty in the Navy. They were married on November 18, 1951. In just a few years they became parents to three children; Stephen (1953), Linda (1954), and Joe (1956). Seemingly overnight she went from a carefree teenage girl to a young mom with a husband, three babies, with bottles and diapers everywhere. Admittedly, she had to learn to cook quickly since she said she didn’t even know how to boil water.

When the kids started school Jeanette began her 32 year career driving a school bus for the Union County School District. She loved her job and had great rapport with kids.  She quickly became the primary driver on class field trips, band, FFA and athletic trips. She knew the best route through the woods to Dixie County or down the interstate to Orlando or Atlanta. She was “Google Maps” before Google Maps was invented.

Jeanette’s favorite role began when she became a grandmother. She was the taxi driver for all the grandkids to dental appointments, she was the nurse when they got sick at school, and she was the errand runner when they needed a sheet of poster board or a few dozen cupcakes. Grannie was the ‘go to’ person for whatever was needed. She was at every steer show, recital, ball game, graduation, wedding or birthday party. She loved all family activities. Sunday dinner after church was a family tradition that she had established and cherished. She loved Christmas Eve brunch, Hendricks Family Thanksgiving, birthday parties and cook-outs at the lake. She was always ready for an adventure. If anyone mentioned the words “let’s go” or “trip” she was ready! All she needed to do was grab her purse, the bag that she kept packed, and head out the door. She welcomed in every new family member and was actually at the hospital when almost every one of her 20 great grandchildren were born.

Jeanette was not impressed with the trappings of style or status. She had no idea who Liz Clayborn or Louis Vuitton were. She was perfectly content with a dress or purse from Penneys or Belks. She loved to serve others in her family, her church or neighborhood. She was a worker in the trenches-cooking, cleaning and caring for others. She was never interested in recognition or praise, she just loved people. She was an amazing example of someone with a servant’s heart reflecting Christ’s love for others.

In the last few months, as her dementia worsened, she tended to tell you exactly what she thought, not mincing any words. This strong, determined inner strength carried her through many of those 72 years of marriage and child-rearing, when she said that she would just go out behind the barn, have a good cry, and then “carry on”.  She never understood why today’s wives and mothers have to go on week-end getaways and shopping trips to cope with today’s problems. “They need to stay home and take care of their families”, she often declared.

Jeanette was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years Bryan; her parents, Raymond and Ethel Ryals; her sister Betty (Lowman) Beville, and brother Robert (Johnnie) Ryals.

She is survived by her three children: Stephen (JoAnn) Hendricks, Linda (Phillip) Johns, Joe (Debbie) Hendricks; Seven grandchildren: Stephanie (Danny) Christmas, Blake Dicks, Jason (Angie) Hendricks, Jodi (Jeff) England, Kellie (Jessie) Rhoades, Stacie (Richard) Cason and Brad (Sarai) Dicks; 20 Great Grandchildren: Macy, Evan, and Molly Christmas, Seth (Haley), Gage, and Jordan Hendricks, Ella, Grant, Jesse, and Kenna Dicks, Lexi England, Tanner, Judd and Tripp Connell, Andie Jo Rhoades, Landon, Clayton, Allie, Alston and Aubrie Cason; Brother-in-law and sisters-in-law; David & Ann Hendricks, Vernon & Janet Hendricks, Donald & Lois Hendricks, and Pam Hendricks. A multitude of nieces and nephews lovingly called her ‘Aunt Net’.

A visitation for Jeanette will be held on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, from 5pm - 7pm at Archer-Milton Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 11:00am on Thursday, January 4, 2024, at Lake Butler Church of Christ. She will be laid to rest immediately following the service at Hendricks Cemetery. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Archer-Milton Funeral Home. 386-496-2008 www.ArcherFuneralHome.com