Grace C. Hessman, 90, died Monday, March 9, 2009 at Dixie Medical Center in St. George, Utah. She was born on June 23, 1918 in Ravenscrag, in the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada, the daughter of Albert Ross and Myrtle Arminta (Covalt) Wilcox.

She lived with her family on the homestead in Ravenscrag. The family moved back to Dodge City when Grace was in the fourth grade. In her youth, Grace was very involved with local theater and politics, including the promotion of the Townsed Plan which advocated several critical amendments to the Social Security Act of 1939. Grace was Dodge City's first rodeo queen. On June 18, 1947, she married Ben Hessman. He preceded her in death. Grace and her mother ran the Wilcox Beauty Academy in Dodge City for several years. After the school closed, she continued to operate a beauty salon out of her home until retiring in 1999.

Grace is survived by four sons, Charles McKinney of Las Vegas, Nevada, Cliff Hessman of Augusta, Kansas, Richard A. Hessman of Dodge City, Kansas and Patrick Hessman of Magnolia, Texas; two daughters, Berna Alderson of Leander, Texas and Marilyn Wells of Santa Clara, Utah; 19 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a brother, Ross Wilcox and a sister, Arminta Eaken.

Vigil service will be held at Swaim Funeral Home, Dodge City on Monday, March 16, 2009 at 7:00 P.M. Funeral Mass will be held at Cathedral Of Our Lady Of Guadalupe, Dodge City, on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 10:00 AM with Rev. Ted Skalsky presiding. Burial will follow at Greencrest Cemetery in Dodge City. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Home on Monday, March 16, 2009 from noon to 7:00 PM. Memorials can be made to Hospice of the Prairie in care of the funeral home. Personal Condolences may be left at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.