Marie E Hammons

Marie Hammons, age 91, passed away October 22, 2024, at Bailey Pointe Assisted Living Center in Plattsmouth, Nebraska. She was born September 5, 1933, in Mynard, Nebraska, the daughter of Matthias Milton and Mildred Frances (Motis) Toman.

She graduated from Plattsmouth High School in the class of 1950. She received her three-year certificate to teach in the rural country school system at the age of sixteen. She went back to school at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and eventually received another three-year certificate. She spent many years teaching in the rural one room school system in Cass County.

June 3, 1956, she married Virgil Lee Hammons, her childhood playmate. They were married in the Old First Christian Church in Murray, Nebraska. Together they raised a son and two daughters. They began married life on a farm in Cedar County, Missouri, where they raised turkeys and purebred Jersey cattle. During this time an opportunity to work in the Elevator Trade arose in Kansas City, Missouri. The family moved to Merriam, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City, where they lived for ten years.

Virgil and Marie had always had a dream of returning to a farm in Nebraska. In the summer of 1969, they purchased the farm that Marie’s grandparents had owned, and it was on this farm that the family lived for forty-eight years. During this expanse of time, they soon joined the Presbyterian Church of Murray where she taught Sunday School for many years. During this time, she also served on the Board of Deacons and was the secretary for the Pastoral Nominating Committee. Later she and her husband joined the First Presbyterian Church in Plattsmouth, where she belonged to the Presbyterian Women’s Society and was a frequent teacher of the monthly lesson.

For many years she enjoyed the rural life working beside her husband raising hogs and black Angus cattle. They also maintained a small orchard and vineyard and raised a large garden that was shared with family, friends, and neighbors.

Marie was an accomplished cook and baker. These talents won her the Pillsbury Bake-Off contest in 1962. She also excelled at baking and decorating wedding and birthday cakes. Her love of cooking continued throughout her life, with family and friends reaping the rewards.

Marie loved flowers of all kinds, but her favorites were iris, peonies, and roses, of which she had many. She had an iris garden and maintained a breeding program that resulted in many new varieties, aptly named after children and grandchildren. You could almost always find her in her flower beds during spring and summer. In later years, she became interested in African Violets and maintained a breeding program that resulted in many new varieties that were shared with friends and neighbors. None were ever refused. During the winter months she made quilts for her children and grandchildren. When she wasn’t making quilts, she was crocheting many items for them.

After retirement, Virgil and Marie loved to travel. While many adventures they enjoyed as a couple, the most treasured trips always included family. Especially highlighted was the yearly fishing trip to Canada, that always included “as many grandchildren as they could haul along”.

Through the years Marie became an accomplished genealogist and published an exceptional Hammons Family History book. She continually maintained her other family genealogies that were never published. She gave freely of her time and resources to help others with their family searches.

She is survived by her children Harold (Janet) Hammons, Murray, NE, Susan (Craig) Delavan, Glenwood, IA, and Karen (Alan) Jones, Clarksburg, IL, 7 Grandchildren and 12 Great Grandchildren, sister-in law Darlene Clanton, and nephew John Clanton. Preceding her in death are her husband Virgil and her parents, Mick and Mildred.

Funeral services for Marie will be Friday, October 25, 2024, at 11:00 at the First Presbyterian Church, Plattsmouth, NE.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.

Memorials may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church.

Arrangements By:  Brian P. Harvey Funeral Home – Plattsmouth, NE  402-296-4445

Condolences to www.bpharveyfuneralhome.com