Mary Hammer

Mary Elizabeth Hammer (a.k.a. Thompson) age 91, the second child of Dewey and Karene Nearpass of Coldwater, Michigan, died peacefully at her home near Phoenix, AZ on June 30th, 2012 following an extended illness. Born March 5th, 1921, she was a 1939 graduate of Coldwater High School. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Roger Lee Thompson of Pleasant Lake, IN; her second husband, Benjamin Wesley Hammer of Pasadena, CA; her brothers George and Leslie of Coldwater; her sisters Dorothy (Breneman) of Coldwater and Suzanne (Allen) of San Bernardino, CA. She is survived by her brother Chris of Benton Harbor, MI; her sister Marion (Martin) of Montpelier, OH; her son Matthew and grandchildren Tiffany and Justin of Everett, WA; her son John (wife Rachel) and grandson Nicholas of San Diego, CA. During the summers as a young lady, Mary provided child care for the prominent Hodgman family (from Detroit) who had a summer home at Morrison Lake (Michigan). Following high school graduation, she worked as a nurse’s aid in the Coldwater, Michigan hospital. During World War II, she worked in the tool design group at the Ford Motor Company’s Willow Run Bomber Plant near Ypsilanti, Michigan which produced over 8,600 B-24 Liberators. She was also on the Queen’s Court of the 1944 Branch County (Michigan) 4-H fair. Following the war, she returned to Coldwater where she worked for Davis Coal and Fuel Oil Company. In the spring of 1953, she moved to Wichita, KS, when her husband Roger went to work for Boeing. While there, she was employed as a blueprint clerk for Cessna Aircraft Company. In 1967, Boeing transferred the family to Everett, WA where they spent 36 years in the Eastmont area. Twice, Mary worked as a retail sales clerk for Sears Roebuck & Company at the Everett Mall. She hired on in August of 1969 and first retired in March of 1985 to enjoy life with her husband Roger, who also retired in June of that year. Following her husband’s death in 1990, she returned back to work at Sears and retired the second time (at age 80) in March of 2001. Mary was twice Worthy Matron of Everett Chapter #222 Order of the Eastern Star, and was a past deacon at Everett First Presbyterian Church. In August of 2003, she moved to Sun City West, AZ to enjoy retirement living in the warmth of the Southwest. It is there where she met her second husband, Ben, at the Hillcrest Ball Room Dance Club. Her warm smile and willingness to engage others blessed her with many friends in her new community. Mary will best be remembered for her generosity and loving heart. Truly one of our nation’s “greatest generation” has now found a home with the Lord. A graveside service for family only will be held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, July 10th at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Everett, WA. The family wishes to express a sincere “thank you” to the staff of Meridian Assisted Living Home in Surprise, AZ for the loving care they provided during Mary’s time of need; and to the community of Desert Palms Presbyterian Church in Sun City West, AZ for simply being a friend.