Patricia Hammer

CHICO, Calif. ? Patricia ?Pat? Hammer, 88, of Chico, California, died Saturday, May 28, 2016, in Chico.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, June 10, at Bidwell Presbyterian Church in Chico, California. Burial will be beside her husband?s grave at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery. All arrangements are being handled by the Neptune Society of Chico, California.

Mrs. Hammer was born Feb. 3, 1928, in Falls City, Nebraska, the daughter of Garnet and Ivan Chaffee. After graduating from Falls City High School, she enrolled as a dramatic arts major at the University of Iowa, where she met her future husband, William Hammer of Washington. The couple were married on April 3, 1947.

She and her husband enjoyed 63 years of marriage, and raised three children. In 1963 the family moved from Iowa to Huntington Beach, California, where they lived until retirement. She was a United Methodist for over 60 years. She was very active in her local church and served as president of the District and Regional Conference of the United Methodist women. She also served as trustee at the Claremont School of Theology, was board member of the Arcadia Methodist Hospital, and was representative to the Methodist General and Jurisdictional Conferences. Her work with the General Council on Ministries, the World Methodist Council, and National Council of Churches led her to worldwide travels for her faith. After retirement, she and her husband spent nine summers enjoying Yellowstone National Park, with her working as the front desk manager at the historic Lake Yellowstone Hotel. She was an avid bridge player and reader. She enjoyed knitting, needlepoint and cross-stitching. Many family and friends were recipients of her work. She always had a smile and a cheerful exchange for residents and staff of Sycamore Glen, where she found a home and lived the last chapter of her life. At the time of her death, she was a member of Bidwell Presbyterian Church, where she found friendship, service opportunities and inspiration.

Surviving are three children, Priscilla Burnett and husband Mark of Huntington Beach, California, Eric Hammer and wife Pat of Lodi, California, and Mark Hammer and wife Dami of Chico, California; and two brothers, John Chaffee of Mesa, Arizona, and James Chaffee and wife Edna of Melbourne, Florida.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Hammer.