Official Obituary of
Willard E Hammack
July 23, 1932 ~ August 10, 2019 (age 87) 87 Years Old
Willard Hammack Obituary
Willard Eugene Hammack returned to his Heavenly Father on 8/10/2019 at 7:15pm
Willard was born to Chester Hammack and Eethel May Cox Hammack in Enterprise, Oregon on 7/23/32.
When he was born he joined his older siblings Weldon, Ruth, Dora and later on in his life, a younger sister Laura joined the family.
He graduated from high school (The Highlanders) in Burns, Oregon in 1950.
He married Novella G. Van Alstine on Oct. 29th 1950 at the Hope Luthran Church in Hines, Oregon.
They had three children, Patty Ann in 1953, Jenifer Lee in 1955 and Sharon Marie in 1958. They were married for 62 years.
He worked at several jobs, from selling appliances & furniture, to pulling and stacking lumber at Edward Hines Lumber Mill, while there
he won several recognition awards for being super fast at the job, exceeding their quotas multiple times during one shift.
He was also an assistant dog catcher and deputy sheriff in Malhuer County.
In 1967 Willard moved his family to Prineville to take over ownership of the Tastee Treet from his sister Ruth, after she had lost her husband Kenny in an auto accident.
He and Novella sold the Tastee Treet and purchased a Triplex rental building where he lived and worked from 1973 to 2019. Willard also work several years at Les Schwab in the recap department.
He worked for several years in the logging industry in Prineville, Oregon.
He also sold Army/Navy Surplus for several years traveling to different towns across the Western United States.
He served 23 years in the National Guard.
OreARNG, enlisted on Oct 31st, 1949 served till Oct. 30th, 1962. Honorable Discharge Sergant First Class,
28 781 400
BTRY A 1ST AW BN 249TH ARTY, Mess Stweard 94B40.
Reinlisted on Oct. 31st 1962 with the Co A 2d Bn 303d Armor, in Burns, Oregon. Honorable Discharge
Oct 30th 1967.
NG 781 400, STAFF SERGEANT, COA 2D BN 303 ARMOR.
Military Qualification
Rifle M1-Expert- 3,
Mess Steward 94B40.
He enlisted again in National Guard in 1976
Honorably Discharged Nov 1st 1981 as Staff Sergeant E6, TRP L (-)
3D SQDN 116 ARMD CAV,
BEND, OR.
Mess Steward 94B40.
He loved life to the fullest.
He was always there to help anyone who asked him for his help, no matter what.
He was an artist who drew with charcoal, colored pencils and ink.
He loved sports, especially football.
He followed Oregon college football teams and the NFL Patriots.
He was a avid sports hunter. An excellent shot. Deer, antelope, elk and wild sheep.
He loved fishing. His favorite areas to fish were the Owyhee River outside Vale, Oregon and the Crooked River around Prineville, Oregon.
He loved driving his boat around on the Prineville Reservoir while fishing for big mouth bass and rainbow trout.
He excelled at arm wrestling, playing pool, darts, bowling, playing cards, pinochle, black jack and cribbage were his favorites.
He was a member of the Elks Lodge for 60 years and The American Legion.
He loved wood working with red Juniper, making coffee and end tables, lamps, clocks, and wall hangings.
He loved flowers, landscaping and rock hounding. He built huge rock gardens all around his home.
He loved arrowhead hunting, camping, riding his ATV,
and gathering in firewood every year for winter so, he could play with his chain saws.
He built a hot tub/man cave room in his back yard, that he used nightly.
There he and Novella danced to his huge record collection. When they gazed into each others eyes, you could see all the love they had for each other.
He will be missed greatly by all who knew and loved him.
Rest in peace daddy, until we meet again!
In lieu of flowers, please donate in Willards name to the USO or Wounded Warrier Project.
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