Chancey Ray Hammond
March 2, 1920 - November 9, 2007
Obituary
Chancey Hammond was born in Burlington, Kansas, on March 2, 1920, and passed peacefully away of pneumonia, on November 9, 2007.
Chancey was one of seven siblings that were raised on a large self-sufficient Kansas farm, that produced grain, milk from a dairy herd, eggs from chickens, meat from poultry, hogs, and cattle, and a large vegetable garden. Hundreds of quarts of meat, vegetables, and fruit were prepared each year to provide food during the long winter months. Several acres devoted to “popping corn” were planted each year to last the family and friends through the Kansas evenings listening to music, programs on the radio, or the occasional live music fests at the home. Chancey remembers their early days, initially farming with a plow, until the family acquired a tractor. In high school, Chancey played football, track, baseball, and was a member of the 4H club.
Following high school, his uncle Jack, a Northwest Airline pilot & Captain, helped Chancey get a job with Northwest. He left Kansas for the big city of Seattle yes, indoor plumbing!. His favorite aspect of the job at Northwest Airlines was to drive the company car to pick up attractive female flight attendants for their flights. Chancey left Northwest Airlines and worked as a mechanic and later a flight inspector at Boeing.
Though being exempted from military service while working at Boeing, Chancey’s patriotism led him to enlist in the Navy during World War II, where he served on-board the battleship USS North Carolina, in the Pacific.
Following WWII, Chancey met his future wife at Boeing, Marie Woulf, and they were married on September 13, 1947. Chancey and Marie have two devoted sons, Douglas and Gordon. Family vacations would often feature traveling to various sites in their 16-foot Shasta trailer, being towed by their aquamarine colored 1956 Chevy station wagon.
Chancey was especially fond of dancing, bowling, salmon fishing, puttering around in the yard or shop, and was a coach for his boys Little League and Pony League baseball teams. He and Marie would love to join close friends and go dancing Saturday nights at the local Spanish Castle or Northlake Taverns. During bowling season, the Hammond family would often go bowling with their close friends, June and Roy Schultz, on Sunday mornings, followed by a breakfast out, and lots of laughs. Chancey bowled throughout his life, into his 80’s, until a shoulder injury ended his bowling career.
Chancey was always an easy-going fellow, never was one to be in a great hurry, and content working in his vegetable garden, or working on projects in the shop. He always had his tools cleaned, oiled, and neatly stored in the same place or hook in the garage. A product of the depression, nothing was typically thrown out, even used screws, used containers, scraps of wood and metal, and used nails were often straightened and saved. Items in the garage would be neatly placed on racks, shelves, in coffee cans, or hanging from hooks or nails on the walls or rafters within the garage. The garage was an earthy collective work of art. Following the evening meal and reading the paper, Chancey would often recline in his easy chair and take of good nap often with a healthy snore.
Chancey worked at Boeing for 44 years until his retirement in 1985. Chancey and Marie enjoyed to travel and made a number of special trips to Europe, Hawaii, and throughout the continental United States. Chancey and Marie were married for 49 years, until her passing on September 13th, 1996.
Chancey is much loved and will be greatly missed. He is survived by his sons Douglas and Gordon, their wives Deb and Susan, and his siblings Irene Shultz of Puyallup, Dorothy Keen of Seattle, Howard Hammond of Kent, and Wilma Barker of Bonney Lake.
The family requests any remembrances to be made on behalf of Chancey to a charity of your choice.
A memorial service will be held 11:30am, on November 17, 2007, in the Bonney-Watson, Washington Memorial Chapel, 16445 International Blvd, SeaTac WA. 98188.
Dear Doug and Gordie,
Your dad was a wonderful man and he will be missed by many. I will always have fond memories of Uncle Chauncey. Both your parents have a special place in my heart. I hope you will always remember what good sons you were and how very proud your parents were of you.
I hope that all of the great memories over the course of your lives will sustain you during this time of loss.
Love,
Terri
I will always remember both my aunt and uncle as being such genuinely nice people. We spent many holidays together growing up, and I loved thos times. My Dad and Chauncey would always watch football games together. Doug told me that his friends would tell him that he lived in a Leaver It to Beaver house. That is the ultimate compliment for any family. Chauncy was such a good man. He will truly be missed, but I know that Uncle Chauncy and Aunt Marie are up there watching over their boys.
Doug, Gord and families, Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time. We had great times at get togethers. I remember the first time I saw the game Risk at the old hall. I wasn’t allowed to play as I was too young : Your dad and mom were great and always had a smile and laugh. We will not be able to attend, but will be there in spirit. Love you, Cathe, Don and Family Craig, Lena and Dalton
Doug Gord, Deb and Sue
Some of my fondest memories of your Mom and Dad were held at the hall on Christmas, Easter and whatever the Hammond family would decied upon. Your mom, always wore a beautiful smile and I remember one time I commented on her hair at how nice it looked, then I realized it was a wig. I laugh as I think of that. Your Dad was always upbeat with the thumbs up sign. Polite always making sure to say hi to all of us. I will miss him and his wonderful personality.I am so glad I came there on Friday. It’s always good to have family with you at times like this. Hugs and Love Karen Barker Nunn
Dear Doug, Gord, and family-
I was so sorry to hear of Chauncey’s passing. I will always remember how kind Uncle Chauncey was, and he truly showed his enthusiasm and happiness whenever we saw him. My thoughts are with you at this very difficult time.
Love, Becky Woulf Stockmar
I would like to extend my condolences to Doug and Gordy and the entire Hammond family on the passing of Uncle Chauncey. Whenever we visited our Seattle cousins as children, we were met with smiles and hugs from Uncle Chauncey — and usually a piece of candy from his pockets. I was impressed by his bowling and fishing stories. He was a great storyteller! You were blessed with a kind, loving father. I know his memory will warm your hearts forever.
Thinking of you at this difficult time,
Peggy Woulf Ragan
Uncle Chancey was a loving uncle who always had a smile and good word to say to everyone. I will miss him dearly but know he is happy with his wife, Aunt Marie and his sister, my Mom, Virginia and his brother Harvey. I am sure they are having a get together in Heaven.
Love & Prayers,
Pam
We were very sorry to hear of your loss. Our hearts and thoughts go out to your family.
–Tim, Tess and Enya-Maria
Uncle Chancey was always quick with a smile and a great story teller…always had a twinkle in his eyes of merriment. His positive thinking was an inspiration. His memories will be with me always. My condolences to his sons Doug and Gord and Deb and Sue for their great loss of a dear father. May the love give you peace and comfort. I will be with you in spirit during the Memorial.
Love your cousin from NY
Diane
To The Family of Mr. Chancey Ray Hammond
I would like to express my deepest sympathy to each of you. Although we are not acquainted with one another, we are acquainted with the pain when our loved ones fall asleep in death.
Our Heavenly Father feels the pain that you are going through. When he created the first Man and Woman it was his purpose that they and their offspring including us live forever without the effects of sickness and death.
His purpose has not changed for he promises that the day is soon to come in which he will wipe away the tears of sorrow from our eyes forever and death will be no more.
He promises too that your loved ones, my loved ones and many others will hear his voice and come out of the memorial tombs graves.