George Franklin Hammond

Services for Mr. Hammond will be on Thursday, September 25, 2014 at 10:00 AM at The First Baptist Church in Academy with Pastor Brent Boatwright officiating. Burial will follow in Wilson Valley Cemetery in Little River.

George was born on August 14, 1945 in Alton, Illinois to Frank and Rosealee Fergeson Hammond. He grew up and attended school in Roxana, Illinois before joining the Navy in 1965. He left the Navy in 1968 and went to work for US Gypsum in Sweetwater , Texas. He met and married the love of his life, Barbara Crain, on July 1, 1967 in Sweetwater. He later worked for 19 years for Sante Fe Railroad as a conductor and for Amtrak as a conductor for 12 years before retirement. He enjoyed reading and loved his time spent at the coffee shop telling tales with his friends. Even through his lengthy illness, George never complained about the pain he was suffering and was always eager to go to work.

George was preceded in death by his parents, a young son Gregory Hammond, and sisters Louise McCullum, Barbara McCullum, and Rozina Freezland. He is survived by his loving wife of over 47 years Barbara, daughters Karey Gibson and Heather Hammond, as well as grandchildren Maegan Lingo, Brendan Gibson, and James Hammond.

A visitation for family and friends will be held on Wednesday, September 24 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the funeral home.

Words of comfort can be left for the family at www.crawfordbowers.org.

Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home in Temple is in charge of the arrangements.