Lois Hammond

Gunnison, Utah - Our beloved Mother, Lois Verna Metcalf Hammond, passed peacefully away on September 1, 2012, surrounded by family. She was born in Gunnison, UT on December 5, 1925, the seventh of seven children to Arthur Velorus and Jane Erickson Metcalf. Mom left an amazing legacy of love, laughter and service to her name. Lois married her sweetheart, Donald Hammond on March 1, 1947. They met at a dance after Donald returned from the war, and enjoyed dancing, socializing, as well as working together for the rest of their lives. Together they reared five children, worked a farm with sheep and cattle, and lived and enjoyed their life to the fullest. Lois is survived by her five children, Jenny Rex (Lowell) of Goodyear, AZ; Mary Young (Mike) of Sweet, ID; Jay Hammond (Shawna) of Phoenix, AZ; Ron Hammond of American Fork, UT; Julie Wood (Ron) of Cedar City, UT, seventeen grandchildren and twenty two great grandchildren. Lois was preceded in death by her husband, Donald and one grandchild, Jaye Brittany Hammond and all of her siblings. Lois had a passion for life and family. Her life centered on family and friends, and she cherished sharing time, love and laughter with them. She had a strong work ethic, loved serving others, and always looked for the positive in life and others. Mom learned early how to enjoy life, whatever the circumstances might be. She was the queen of recycling. One of her famous quotes was “Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”. She loved to have fun, share stories, poems and jokes, and to play games. And she loved to teach her children and grandchildren how to play games and have fun. She was also the queen of Pac-man, checkers and Pinochle. Multi-tasking was a skill she mastered before the word was even invented. She could be feeding a bummer lamb, cooking dinner, tending to a sick child, and washing dishes all at the same time. Mom had a gift in the kitchen. Her delicious homemade bread, doughnuts and cinnamon rolls were famous among her friends, the sheep herders, farmers and visiting family. Her baking abilities left everyone’s’ mouths watering and begging for more. Mom was a talented quilt maker, enjoyed crocheting and needle work. Mom was an avid cross-word puzzle solver and very good at word games and puzzles. Mom worked as a waitress, cleaning hotel rooms, and as a school lunch cook, but her favorite job was being homemaker and farmer’s wife. The greatest tribute to our mom is not in mentioning all that she has done, but in all the lives she has touched. Everyone within her reach was touched by her love—not only her family and friends, but also strangers she would meet in the check-out line. For her love and her laughter, she will be sorely missed, and never forgotten. Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 8, 2012 in the Centerfield 1st Ward chapel at 11:00 am, where friends may call for viewing from 9:30 am to 10:30 am prior to the service. All are invited to attend. Burial will be in the Gunnison City Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.