Gary Delbert Hammett

Gary Delbert Hammett was born December 6th 1942 in Lebanon, Oregon. He later moved to Salem, attending Swegle Grade School, Parrish Jr High School and North Salem High School where he excelled at track and field, graduating in 1961. He served in the National Guard before moving to Alaska where he worked as a fish and game warden, drove a tanker truck delivering jet fuel on the icy roads of Juneau and worked in a gun shop. Gary then moved to Spray and Prineville, Oregon where he worked hard as a logger and at the Les Schwab Tire Factory. His next adventure took him to Friday Harbor, Washington where he bought and lived on a boat called Setsu and worked at the Union 76 Station where he met his wife Emily whom he married in 1980. They later moved to Bend, Oregon where he worked as a cabinet maker. Then moved to Aumsville, Oregon and bought a beautiful 20 acre farm where he grew oats and raised sheep and horses. During this time he worked at the Metropolitan Store in Salem for 12 years, selling furniture with his father. After a brief stay in Salem, he moved to Christmas Valley, Oregon, a place he dearly loved and had always wanted to live, where he lived for many years. He was an independent trucker for several years before retiring in 2010. He later moved back to the Willamette Valley to be near his family where he spent the remainder of his life.

Gary had an adventurous spirit and a passion for the outdoors. He loved hunting, guns and reloading ammunition but in later years confessed that he really didn't like to kill anything, but really just loved camping with friends and family. He enjoyed riding and training horses and generally loved animals. He was a talented musician and played violin, guitar, and harmonica. His passion for motorcycles lasted his entire life and he owned many. He also enjoyed watching and participating in boxing and free diving with his father. Gary was known for his crazy sense of humor and easily made people laugh.

Gary committed his life to Christ in 1980 and attended church everywhere he lived. He loved the Lord just as his parents had and dedicated the rest of his life to his walk with God. He was a quiet, likable man and this served him well doing prison ministry in Bend with his wife. Gary always had time to listen and people often sought him out for advice. Gary spent his final hours surrounded by family before flying off to heaven.

Gary was preceded in death by his father Delbert Clyde Hammett, mother Deloris Evengeline Hammett and his baby brother Michael Charles Hammett.

Gary is survived by his wife Emily Campbell Hammett, his son Delbert Pofahl (Sharon), his daughter Tammie Hammett (Kirk), his sisters Dixie Mitchell (Bob) and Linda Poverud, nephews Todd Mitchell, Michael Poverud, Scott Poverud, Leslie Mitchell and Brian Mitchell, grandsons Jacob Pofahl, Sean Pofahl and Hunter Kent.