Zella Hammer
Oct. 6, 1922-Sept. 27, 2012
Zella Bernice Hammer, 89 years old (one week short of 90 years), a lifelong resident of Excelsior Springs, Mo., passed away on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, at Excelsior Springs Hospital of congestive heart failure.
Zella was born on Oct. 6,1922, in Lexington, Mo., to Elias Mack Popejoy and Sally Walton-Popejoy. She married Lee Matthews in 1941 and tragically lost Lee in a farming accident in 1954. Zella married Berger Hammer in 1956; Berger preceded Zella in death in 1994.
Zella attended Excelsior Springs High School and was active in the high school marching band. She excelled in home economics and was known for baking exceptional biscuits. Zella worked for the McCleary Clinic & Hospital for several years, in addition to cleaning dental offices, attorney firms and other professional offices in the downtown Excelsior Springs area. She also devoted her life to caring for her invalid daughter, Suzanne, at home.
While Zella lived most of her life in Excelsior Springs, she spent several years in Battleground, Wash., with husband Lee Matthews during his employment as a shipbuilder. In addition to several different residences in Excelsior Springs, she lived at the Colony Plaza from 1998 to 2009, then Excelsior Springs Convalescent Center from 2009 until the time of her death. Zella enjoyed cooking and opening her home to her family and friends. She had a love for animals and provided a home to many different, yet beloved, dogs over her life.
Zella was a believer in Jesus Christ as her Savior and attended Assemblies of God Church. Zella loved the fall season in particular, from the annual Homecoming parade leading up to the annual Halloween parade in Excelsior Springs. Every year, she would wear her Lone Ranger mask and delightfully answer her front door to trick-or-treaters to see their colorful costumes.
Zella was predeceased by two daughters, Gloria "June" McKnight, in 2000, and Suzanne Kay Hammer, in 1996; her three sisters, Grace Popejoy, Maurine Garvin-Bratline and Ann Culp; and her two brothers, Mack and John.
Zella is survived by daughter, Cheryl Kaye and husband, Don Pennel, of Lee's Summit, Mo.; granddaughters, Cheri Pennel of Overland Park, Kan., Christine Pennel and husband, Scott Jones, of Lee's Summit, and Lisa Broyles and husband, Eddie Meiers; great-grandchildren, Colin Knarr, of Manhattan, Kan., Kelby Meiers, of Greenwood, Mo., Connor Jones, of Lee's Summit, and Keeley Meiers, of Greenwood, Mo. Zella is also survived by three nephews and their wives, Virgil and Barbara Garvin, of Excelsior Springs, Richard and Cindy Garvin, of Rayville, and Roy and Shirley Garvin, of Salem, Ore. Zella leaves many friends, along with Morris the Cat, at the Excelsior Springs Convalescent Center.
Visitation was held at 10 a.m., Monday, Oct. 1, at Bross & Spidle Funeral Home in Excelsior Springs, with graveside services at 11 a.m. at Crown Hill Cemetery, U.S. 69 and Crown Hill Road in Excelsior Springs. Dr. William Davis, senior pastor of Sycamore Hills Baptist Church in Independence, Mo., officiated the service. Interment followed the service.
The family wishes to thank the staff at the Excelsior Springs Convalescent Center for your loving and patient care to Zella.
[email protected]
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Zella B. Hammer, 89, Excelsior Springs, Mo., passed away Sept. 27, 2012. Visitation from 10 to 11 a.m., service at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 1, at Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs. Burial in Crown Hill Cemetery.
Published in Kansas City Star on September 30, 2012
Zella Hammer
Oct. 6, 1922-Sept. 27, 2012
Zella Bernice Hammer, 89 years old (one week short of 90 years), a lifelong resident of Excelsior Springs, Mo., passed away on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, at Excelsior Springs Hospital of congestive heart failure.
Zella was born on Oct. 6,1922, in Lexington, Mo., to Elias Mack Popejoy and Sally Walton-Popejoy. She married Lee Matthews in 1941 and tragically lost Lee in a farming accident in 1954. Zella married Berger Hammer in 1956; Berger preceded Zella in death in 1994.
Zella attended Excelsior Springs High School and was active in the high school marching band. She excelled in home economics and was known for baking exceptional biscuits. Zella worked for the McCleary Clinic & Hospital for several years, in addition to cleaning dental offices, attorney firms and other professional offices in the downtown Excelsior Springs area. She also devoted her life to caring for her invalid daughter, Suzanne, at home.
While Zella lived most of her life in Excelsior Springs, she spent several years in Battleground, Wash., with husband Lee Matthews during his employment as a shipbuilder. In addition to several different residences in Excelsior Springs, she lived at the Colony Plaza from 1998 to 2009, then Excelsior Springs Convalescent Center from 2009 until the time of her death. Zella enjoyed cooking and opening her home to her family and friends. She had a love for animals and provided a home to many different, yet beloved, dogs over her life.
Zella was a believer in Jesus Christ as her Savior and attended Assemblies of God Church. Zella loved the fall season in particular, from the annual Homecoming parade leading up to the annual Halloween parade in Excelsior Springs. Every year, she would wear her Lone Ranger mask and delightfully answer her front door to trick-or-treaters to see their colorful costumes.
Zella was predeceased by two daughters, Gloria "June" McKnight, in 2000, and Suzanne Kay Hammer, in 1996; her three sisters, Grace Popejoy, Maurine Garvin-Bratline and Ann Culp; and her two brothers, Mack and John.
Zella is survived by daughter, Cheryl Kaye and husband, Don Pennel, of Lee's Summit, Mo.; granddaughters, Cheri Pennel of Overland Park, Kan., Christine Pennel and husband, Scott Jones, of Lee's Summit, and Lisa Broyles and husband, Eddie Meiers; great-grandchildren, Colin Knarr, of Manhattan, Kan., Kelby Meiers, of Greenwood, Mo., Connor Jones, of Lee's Summit, and Keeley Meiers, of Greenwood, Mo. Zella is also survived by three nephews and their wives, Virgil and Barbara Garvin, of Excelsior Springs, Richard and Cindy Garvin, of Rayville, and Roy and Shirley Garvin, of Salem, Ore. Zella leaves many friends, along with Morris the Cat, at the Excelsior Springs Convalescent Center.
Visitation was held at 10 a.m., Monday, Oct. 1, at Bross & Spidle Funeral Home in Excelsior Springs, with graveside services at 11 a.m. at Crown Hill Cemetery, U.S. 69 and Crown Hill Road in Excelsior Springs. Dr. William Davis, senior pastor of Sycamore Hills Baptist Church in Independence, Mo., officiated the service. Interment followed the service.
The family wishes to thank the staff at the Excelsior Springs Convalescent Center for your loving and patient care to Zella.
[email protected]
---
Zella B. Hammer, 89, Excelsior Springs, Mo., passed away Sept. 27, 2012. Visitation from 10 to 11 a.m., service at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 1, at Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs. Burial in Crown Hill Cemetery.
Published in Kansas City Star on September 30, 2012
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