Wallace Luther Hammer

Memorial services for Wallace “Wally” Hammer, 73, will be held at West Willow Community Church, Enid, Okla., on Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, at 10 a.m. The Reverend Don Tines will officiate.

Wally was born in “grandma’s bedroom” near Hardtner, Kan., on March 4, 1936, to Glenna Genevieve Graves Hammer and Harley Everett Hammer. Mr. Hammer died peacefully at his ho

me in Lockhart, Texas, on Sept. 15, 2009. His wife, Juanita, and daughter, Leticia, were at his side.

Mr. Hammer graduated from high school in El Centro, Calif., and recently attended his 55th high school reunion there. Wally spent his childhood and early adolescence in Oklahoma – he was truly an Oklahoma boy, loving the plains, the tallgrass prairies, and the Native Americans who called the territory home.

At age 19, he entered the United States Army, serving most of his two years in Germany during the Cold War. Upon returning to the United States, he married Janice Hart and fathered two daughters: Suzie Lynn Bullard, of Riverside, Calif., and Joni Kay Blyth of, Prescott, Ariz. He was recently reunited with his daughter Joni; it was a joy-filled time in his life.

In 1957, he returned to Oklahoma, residing in Alva, Ames and Enid. He had many adventures that he often shared with others. His stories were priceless, and he knew how to laugh at himself. He drove 18-wheelers cross country, worked as a ironworker, aircraft maintenance at Vance Air Force Base-Northrop Grumman, Enid, construction work, oil field sales, and real estate. He even fried bull riding, but only briefly. At any job he worked, he was tireless and exacting, and expected the same from others. He loved to golf and was successful at repairing and building golf clubs as a hobby. Wally also restored a 1962 Volkswagen that he enjoyed riding around town and to work.

He met his beloved wife, Juanita Wages Morgan at a street dance in Ringwood, Okla. They married and settled in Enid after spending a few years in Colorado. His new daughter, Leticia, enriched his life in so many ways. He loved and respected her deeply. In Enid, he worked several years for Northrop Grumman, retiring in 2000. During this time, he enjoyed being a member of the Grand National Quail Club of Okla., for several years. After retiring, he and Juanita moved to Ponca City, where Wally enjoyed working as a volunteer Docent at the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve. Before moving to Lockhart, they also lived on an acreage in Guthrie, Okla., relocating to Lockhart to be near their daughter, Leticia, and son-in-law Ray Mata and the three grandchildren. He delighted in Vida, Baila and Rio Mata. They were the bright beacons of youth in his last decade of life. In Lockhart, Wally, also known as Volkswagen, met some “coffee buddies” at the local McDonalds. Wally and his best friend, Lucky Lady, cherished dog, would go most days to have coffee with the coffee buddies Gilbert, Cruz, CR, Thomas and Gilbert Montoya, Howard, Jimmy and Steve.

He is survived by his wife Juanita of Lockhart; daughter, Leticia and her husband, Ray Mata, of Lockhart; daughters Suzie Lynn Bullard, of Riverside, Calif., and Joni Kay Blyth, of Prescott, daughter Carrie Ann Rust, and son Mike Rust; sister, Lynn Hammer Lorenzetti and her son, Luke Lorenzetti of Vallejo, Calif.; his aunt, Hammer, of Ames; cousin Jock Dee and Teresa Hammer, of Enid; five grandchildren Vida, Baila, and Rio Mata of Lockhart, Roberta and David Blyth of Prescott, Ariz.; and many other cousins, nieces, nephews and relatives.

Wallace was preceded in death by his father, Harley; mother, Glenna; brother, Harley Hammer; uncle, Harvey Hammer, cousin, Benny Hammer; and cousin, Bob Hammer.

Wally was somewhat like Will Rogers. He loved Oklahoma and its history. He rarely met a man he didn’t like. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends; but they know he is attending a big rodeo in the sky.

Memorials may be made to Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78759, or to the Medford Public Library – Medford, Okla., 73759.

Arrangements under the direction of A Simple Tradition Funeral Home, 1611 E. Cesar Chavez, Austin, Texas.