Johnny Hammond, 81, lifelong resident of the Challis area died of natural causes at his home January 29, 2005.
Johnny was born to John L. and Isabella Beardsley Hammond at the family home in May on May 19, 1923. When he was about one year of age, the family moved to what was to become known as the John Hammond family ranch near Challis. John ended his days at the home he and his wife Barbara built on a parcel of the original ranch.
In his early years, Johnny worked very hard helping his family eke out a living, raising turkeys, growing a truck garden and various other endeavors along with running the Hammond cattle and haying operation.
He received his education in Challis schools. He lettered in basketball and boxing and graduated from Challis High School in 1941. Due to the demanding workload of the family ranch and labor shortage brought on by World War II, he remained on the ranch until his parents consented to let him enlist in the war effort.
In 1943, he enlisted in the Army where he served as a sergeant of Company B, 27th Infantry Division, leading a machine gun squad in the occupation of New Hebrides and Okinawa. He was in the first American Ground Occupational Force to be flown into Japan upon the news of Japanese surrender. He was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Medal, Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal and a Purple Heart for wounds inflicted in the Okinawa campaign.
He received an honorable discharge in April of 1946. As with so many returned servicemen, he found it difficult to settle back into civilian life and worked at a number of jobs including a season in hydraulic gold mining in Alaska.
He married Barbara Kimpton on May 19, 1949. The couple subsequently had three children, Shelda Kaye, Douglas Jon and Gordon Ray. In 1952, the family moved to the family ranch that they leased until purchasing it in 1958.
He loved his family and the gatherings at their home with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He particularly enjoyed watching them in sports and participating in outdoor activities with them.
He also had an avid interest in collecting arrowheads, gold mining and seeking “treasures” with his ever-present metal detector. Johnny was well known for his practical jokes, amusing anecdotes, one-liners, cleaver woodcrafts and sly, personalized poetry. He was a good-natured recipient as well as an enthusiastic instigator. He developed a fondness for training his ranch cats to perform tricks for frequent visitors.
His class reunions and visits with his classmates were very special to him in his later years. Friends are invited to share, in writing, any special memories to be included in a “Johnny Hammond Memory Album.”
His parents, a sister Mildred Boge Kimpton, and brothers, Robert B. and William L. Hammond preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife Barbara, a daughter Shelda Farr (Scott), two sons, Doug (Sandi) all of Challis, and Gordon (Maggie) of Salmon. Grandchildren Deb Russell of Scottsdale, Arizona; Justin and Jerrod Farr of Challis; Jason Hammond of Lafayette, Louisiana and Miranda Lafferty of Phoenix, Arizona; also three great-grandchildren John Scott, Jessi and Olivia and numerous nieces and nephews.
The services were held Wednesday, February 2, 2005 at Challis Cemetery with Reverend Bill Matthews officiating. At Johnny’s request, services were limited to brief graveside remarks, with his life sketch presented by Doug and Shelda. Philip Kirk Post 109 of the American Legion provided the military honors and Taps. American Legion Auxiliary and Eastern Star provided the family dinner at the Challis Legion Hall.
Memorial contributions may be made to Challis EMTs, Challis Volunteer Fire Department or charity of one’s choice. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Challis Funeral Home, 121 Main St., Challis.
Johnny was born to John L. and Isabella Beardsley Hammond at the family home in May on May 19, 1923. When he was about one year of age, the family moved to what was to become known as the John Hammond family ranch near Challis. John ended his days at the home he and his wife Barbara built on a parcel of the original ranch.
In his early years, Johnny worked very hard helping his family eke out a living, raising turkeys, growing a truck garden and various other endeavors along with running the Hammond cattle and haying operation.
He received his education in Challis schools. He lettered in basketball and boxing and graduated from Challis High School in 1941. Due to the demanding workload of the family ranch and labor shortage brought on by World War II, he remained on the ranch until his parents consented to let him enlist in the war effort.
In 1943, he enlisted in the Army where he served as a sergeant of Company B, 27th Infantry Division, leading a machine gun squad in the occupation of New Hebrides and Okinawa. He was in the first American Ground Occupational Force to be flown into Japan upon the news of Japanese surrender. He was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Medal, Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal and a Purple Heart for wounds inflicted in the Okinawa campaign.
He received an honorable discharge in April of 1946. As with so many returned servicemen, he found it difficult to settle back into civilian life and worked at a number of jobs including a season in hydraulic gold mining in Alaska.
He married Barbara Kimpton on May 19, 1949. The couple subsequently had three children, Shelda Kaye, Douglas Jon and Gordon Ray. In 1952, the family moved to the family ranch that they leased until purchasing it in 1958.
He loved his family and the gatherings at their home with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He particularly enjoyed watching them in sports and participating in outdoor activities with them.
He also had an avid interest in collecting arrowheads, gold mining and seeking “treasures” with his ever-present metal detector. Johnny was well known for his practical jokes, amusing anecdotes, one-liners, cleaver woodcrafts and sly, personalized poetry. He was a good-natured recipient as well as an enthusiastic instigator. He developed a fondness for training his ranch cats to perform tricks for frequent visitors.
His class reunions and visits with his classmates were very special to him in his later years. Friends are invited to share, in writing, any special memories to be included in a “Johnny Hammond Memory Album.”
His parents, a sister Mildred Boge Kimpton, and brothers, Robert B. and William L. Hammond preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife Barbara, a daughter Shelda Farr (Scott), two sons, Doug (Sandi) all of Challis, and Gordon (Maggie) of Salmon. Grandchildren Deb Russell of Scottsdale, Arizona; Justin and Jerrod Farr of Challis; Jason Hammond of Lafayette, Louisiana and Miranda Lafferty of Phoenix, Arizona; also three great-grandchildren John Scott, Jessi and Olivia and numerous nieces and nephews.
The services were held Wednesday, February 2, 2005 at Challis Cemetery with Reverend Bill Matthews officiating. At Johnny’s request, services were limited to brief graveside remarks, with his life sketch presented by Doug and Shelda. Philip Kirk Post 109 of the American Legion provided the military honors and Taps. American Legion Auxiliary and Eastern Star provided the family dinner at the Challis Legion Hall.
Memorial contributions may be made to Challis EMTs, Challis Volunteer Fire Department or charity of one’s choice. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Challis Funeral Home, 121 Main St., Challis.
Johnny Hammond, 81, lifelong resident of the Challis area died of natural causes at his home January 29, 2005.
Johnny was born to John L. and Isabella Beardsley Hammond at the family home in May on May 19, 1923. When he was about one year of age, the family moved to what was to become known as the John Hammond family ranch near Challis. John ended his days at the home he and his wife Barbara built on a parcel of the original ranch.
In his early years, Johnny worked very hard helping his family eke out a living, raising turkeys, growing a truck garden and various other endeavors along with running the Hammond cattle and haying operation.
He received his education in Challis schools. He lettered in basketball and boxing and graduated from Challis High School in 1941. Due to the demanding workload of the family ranch and labor shortage brought on by World War II, he remained on the ranch until his parents consented to let him enlist in the war effort.
In 1943, he enlisted in the Army where he served as a sergeant of Company B, 27th Infantry Division, leading a machine gun squad in the occupation of New Hebrides and Okinawa. He was in the first American Ground Occupational Force to be flown into Japan upon the news of Japanese surrender. He was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Medal, Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal and a Purple Heart for wounds inflicted in the Okinawa campaign.
He received an honorable discharge in April of 1946. As with so many returned servicemen, he found it difficult to settle back into civilian life and worked at a number of jobs including a season in hydraulic gold mining in Alaska.
He married Barbara Kimpton on May 19, 1949. The couple subsequently had three children, Shelda Kaye, Douglas Jon and Gordon Ray. In 1952, the family moved to the family ranch that they leased until purchasing it in 1958.
He loved his family and the gatherings at their home with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He particularly enjoyed watching them in sports and participating in outdoor activities with them.
He also had an avid interest in collecting arrowheads, gold mining and seeking “treasures” with his ever-present metal detector. Johnny was well known for his practical jokes, amusing anecdotes, one-liners, cleaver woodcrafts and sly, personalized poetry. He was a good-natured recipient as well as an enthusiastic instigator. He developed a fondness for training his ranch cats to perform tricks for frequent visitors.
His class reunions and visits with his classmates were very special to him in his later years. Friends are invited to share, in writing, any special memories to be included in a “Johnny Hammond Memory Album.”
His parents, a sister Mildred Boge Kimpton, and brothers, Robert B. and William L. Hammond preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife Barbara, a daughter Shelda Farr (Scott), two sons, Doug (Sandi) all of Challis, and Gordon (Maggie) of Salmon. Grandchildren Deb Russell of Scottsdale, Arizona; Justin and Jerrod Farr of Challis; Jason Hammond of Lafayette, Louisiana and Miranda Lafferty of Phoenix, Arizona; also three great-grandchildren John Scott, Jessi and Olivia and numerous nieces and nephews.
The services were held Wednesday, February 2, 2005 at Challis Cemetery with Reverend Bill Matthews officiating. At Johnny’s request, services were limited to brief graveside remarks, with his life sketch presented by Doug and Shelda. Philip Kirk Post 109 of the American Legion provided the military honors and Taps. American Legion Auxiliary and Eastern Star provided the family dinner at the Challis Legion Hall.
Memorial contributions may be made to Challis EMTs, Challis Volunteer Fire Department or charity of one’s choice. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Challis Funeral Home, 121 Main St., Challis.
Johnny was born to John L. and Isabella Beardsley Hammond at the family home in May on May 19, 1923. When he was about one year of age, the family moved to what was to become known as the John Hammond family ranch near Challis. John ended his days at the home he and his wife Barbara built on a parcel of the original ranch.
In his early years, Johnny worked very hard helping his family eke out a living, raising turkeys, growing a truck garden and various other endeavors along with running the Hammond cattle and haying operation.
He received his education in Challis schools. He lettered in basketball and boxing and graduated from Challis High School in 1941. Due to the demanding workload of the family ranch and labor shortage brought on by World War II, he remained on the ranch until his parents consented to let him enlist in the war effort.
In 1943, he enlisted in the Army where he served as a sergeant of Company B, 27th Infantry Division, leading a machine gun squad in the occupation of New Hebrides and Okinawa. He was in the first American Ground Occupational Force to be flown into Japan upon the news of Japanese surrender. He was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Medal, Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal and a Purple Heart for wounds inflicted in the Okinawa campaign.
He received an honorable discharge in April of 1946. As with so many returned servicemen, he found it difficult to settle back into civilian life and worked at a number of jobs including a season in hydraulic gold mining in Alaska.
He married Barbara Kimpton on May 19, 1949. The couple subsequently had three children, Shelda Kaye, Douglas Jon and Gordon Ray. In 1952, the family moved to the family ranch that they leased until purchasing it in 1958.
He loved his family and the gatherings at their home with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He particularly enjoyed watching them in sports and participating in outdoor activities with them.
He also had an avid interest in collecting arrowheads, gold mining and seeking “treasures” with his ever-present metal detector. Johnny was well known for his practical jokes, amusing anecdotes, one-liners, cleaver woodcrafts and sly, personalized poetry. He was a good-natured recipient as well as an enthusiastic instigator. He developed a fondness for training his ranch cats to perform tricks for frequent visitors.
His class reunions and visits with his classmates were very special to him in his later years. Friends are invited to share, in writing, any special memories to be included in a “Johnny Hammond Memory Album.”
His parents, a sister Mildred Boge Kimpton, and brothers, Robert B. and William L. Hammond preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife Barbara, a daughter Shelda Farr (Scott), two sons, Doug (Sandi) all of Challis, and Gordon (Maggie) of Salmon. Grandchildren Deb Russell of Scottsdale, Arizona; Justin and Jerrod Farr of Challis; Jason Hammond of Lafayette, Louisiana and Miranda Lafferty of Phoenix, Arizona; also three great-grandchildren John Scott, Jessi and Olivia and numerous nieces and nephews.
The services were held Wednesday, February 2, 2005 at Challis Cemetery with Reverend Bill Matthews officiating. At Johnny’s request, services were limited to brief graveside remarks, with his life sketch presented by Doug and Shelda. Philip Kirk Post 109 of the American Legion provided the military honors and Taps. American Legion Auxiliary and Eastern Star provided the family dinner at the Challis Legion Hall.
Memorial contributions may be made to Challis EMTs, Challis Volunteer Fire Department or charity of one’s choice. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Challis Funeral Home, 121 Main St., Challis.
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