Donald "Hammer" Keith Hamilton

Connersville native, Don “Hammer” Hamilton, 55, died Saturday morning, October 14, 2017, at his Fayette County residence. Don was the son of Jimmie Sams and Ida Hamilton, born July 20, 1962. He attended Laurel High School and Connersville Area Vocational School. Don was a retired member of the Indiana National Guard where he served for 26 years and was a member of the Crabtree Auto Sales Team near Liberty. He had also been employed with Earl McFarland Construction. Don enjoyed spending time with his family and special treasure hunt adventures with his grandchildren. He was an outdoorsman and survivalist who liked to go canoeing, camping, hunting and fishing. In his leisure time, Don liked to hunt fossils, mushrooms and ginseng. He was a member of the Blooming Grove Worship Center and a lifetime member of the American Legion and the AMVETS where he was the former commander. Don will be missed for his kind heart, gentle spirit and his willingness to help others. Don is survived by his wife, Laurie Ervine Hamilton, whom he married November 26, 1983; his daughters and their husbands: Brittany Vest and Nathan of Davidson, Michigan; Lindsey Crabtree and Jeremy of Liberty; his father: Jimmie Sams of Franklin County; his mother: Ida Fields of Laurel; his grandchildren: Leo Vest and Chloe Crabtree; his siblings: Kelly Hokey and his wife, Lisa of Laurel; Michael Fields of Laurel, J.D. Sams of Franklin County; several nieces and nephews; mother-in-law: Carleene Collins and her husband, Dave of Pershing; sister-in-law and special caregiver: Kim Schroeder of Douglas, Wyoming; sister-in-law: Pam Wilson and her husband, Mark of Greenfield; brothers-in-law, including: Mike McKinney of Metamora, Ed Watts and Danny Ervine II, both of Connersville; former sisters-in-law, including: Rhonda Turner of Laurel and Samantha Ervine of Shelbyville. . Don was preceded in death by his sisters: Peggy Sams, Kim Corragio, Georgia McKinney, Roberta Watts; father-in-law: Danny W. Ervine; and a brother-in-law: Robert Schroeder. The Hamilton family would like to thank everyone who visited, sent food, called and made donations. Your support and unconditional love has not gone unnoticed. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 19, 2017 at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Myers Chapel, Connersville with Pastor Tom Marshall officiating. Interment will follow in Dale Cemetery, section K with military honors conducted by the Indiana National Guard. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday where memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, For additional information and to send the family condolences please visit www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.