Beverly Jean Hammer's Obituary
Beverly Jean Hammer died Friday, July 1st, 2022 in Reno, Nevada, where she had been living with her daughter and son-in-law.
Mrs. Hammer was born July 7, 1929 to Emma Charlotte Bryant Wellborn and Curtis Robert Wellborn in Wichita, KS. She grew up in Wichita and graduated from Wichita East High School and Wichita State University, where she majored in Philosophy and Religious Education, with dual minors in Sociology and Secretarial Training.
She was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 66 years, Dr. Lowell Clarke Hammer, whom she married on July 10, 1949. They had two children, David Clarke Hammer (Gainesville, FL) and Christine Hammer Thompson (John David – Reno, NV), four grandchildren, Emma Rose Thompson Glenn (Austin – Reno, NV), Daniel Russell Thompson (Sarah – San Diego, CA), Joshua Hammer Thompson (Shelby – Reno, NV), and Nicole Christina Hammer (Gainesville, FL), and six great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Niameh, Gabrielle, Jonathan, and Jonah Thompson and Alice Clara Glenn.
Mrs. Hammer worked for Beechcraft Aviation in Wichita, KS, and then became a homemaker to the family in Reisterstown, MD. The family subsequently moved to Gainesville in August 1960, where Dr. Hammer began pursuing his doctorate in Speech Pathology and Audiology at the University of Florida.
In the mid-60s, Mrs. Hammer enrolled at the University of Florida and earned a Master of Education in 1965. She soon began teaching history and language arts at Westwood Junior High School. She taught there for several years, then moved to Gainesville High School, where she continued teaching history and language arts before taking early retirement.
Following her teaching career, she began a long and distinguished volunteer career at Shands Teaching Hospital as a member and leader of the Shands Hospital Auxiliary. During her years of service, she served in many officer chairs, including President. She also was a member of the Louis M. Emmel Parliamentary Group and served as parliamentarian for many local organizations.
Since 1960, Mrs. Hammer was a faithful and devoted member of the First United Methodist Church of Gainesville and was active in Sunday School and the church's preschool ministry. She also was a long-time member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chapter AP, of Gainesville. In this, she continued a tradition started by her mother, and was proud to have once served as the Gainesville / Ocala representative to the international P.E.O. meeting in Ottawa, Canada.
Lowell and Beverly were junior high school sweethearts, and then fell in love forever in college. Their enduring love, laughter, care, and compassion for one another blessed everyone who knew them. Beverly was known to one and all as a person who enjoyed a life well-lived. Her family near and far, and her long, happy marriage with Lowell, were the basis for the greater part of her happiness. Added to that were her abiding faith, devotion to Democratic politics, her neighbors in Suburban Heights and friends throughout Gainesville, her pleasure playing bridge, and ever-present newspapers, magazines, books, and public television in the evenings, which she would read and watch with avid interest.
A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of Gainesville (419 NE First Street) with Rev. Beth Snarr and Dr. Harold Henderson officiating. A reception will follow in the Church’s Fellowship Hall.
Those who wish to do so may make contributions to the First United Methodist Church of Gainesville, to the P.E.O. Foundation, sent c/o 4426 NW 77th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32606, or to the Lowell C. Hammer Founders Fellowship Fund, Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, UF College of Public Health and Health Professions.
What’s your fondest memory of Beverly Jean?
What’s a lesson you learned from Beverly Jean?
Share a story where Beverly Jean's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Beverly Jean you’ll never forget.
How did Beverly Jean make you smile?