Betty Jean Hammer

Betty Jean Hammer, age 88, died on Thursday, November 8, 2018 at the Los Alamitos Medical Center. From her birth in Houston, Texas on December 2, 1929 to her last day, she filled everyone in her path with genuine selflessness and love. Betty’s parents, Jim and Elsie, moved from Texas to Los Angeles County to raise her and her brother, Bob Kennedy. She attended Excelsior High School where she played many sports and eventually met her late husband, Richard (“Dick”) Hammer. Betty and Dick Hammer married and started their family in Long Beach, CA. The house they bought across the street from El Dorado Park remained the common place where children played and friends gathered until her last day.
Betty received an A.A. degree in English at Long Beach City College and followed her education to the University of California, Los Angeles. She ultimately left UCLA to encourage Dick in his college basketball career at the University of Southern California. Betty took great pride in supporting her husband, keeping him healthy and safe throughout his careers as a Firefighter and Olympic volleyball player. Together they travelled the world and spread kindness and generosity. Betty and Dick instilled these same values in their three children, Michael, Christine (Darnold), and Daniel Hammer, who filled their Long Beach home with light and laughter. Spending days across the street at El Dorado Park, Betty grew her children to be healthy and active, just like her and Dick had always been. Nurturing her family through everything, including the loss of her husband, Dick (“Grampsy”), and son, Mike (“Uncle Mike”), Betty is remembered by her son- and daughter-in-laws Mike Darnold and Mary Hammer (respectively) and grandchildren Allie, Michele, AJ, Franki, and Sam. Memories of “Granny” will be deeply cherished and missed. Betty is remembered as bright and vibrant, just like the clothes she wore and the garden she grew. Stories of her style, grace, and positivity will be passed along in the family forever.
A private Celebration of Life service will be held for friends and family only. In lieu of flowers, we ask to honor Betty through donations to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, which aids firefighters in their bravery against the current wildfires in LA at supportlafd.org .

We love you more, Granny.

Always,
Franki