RONALD DWIGHT HAMMOND

Ronald Dwight Hammond, 75, of Willard passed away peacefully at his home on Nov. 13, 2022, with his wife Sandy at his bedside. He was unable to recover from a recent surgery, and also suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.
Hammond was born on Nov. 2, 1947, in Lincoln, Neb. to Dwight and Elaine (Allen) Hammond. He was the oldest of four boys. He attended Fordland High School where he excelled in sports. He loved to play basketball and baseball. He graduated high school in 1966 and then attended MO Rolla S&T. He worked briefly at McDonald Aircraft in St. Louis, before being drafted. He chose to go into the Navy and soon knew he would make it his career. He served aboard the USS Lewis & Clark SSBN644 and the USS Mariano G. Vallejo SSBN658. He made enough patrols aboard submarine to add up to five years beneath the water.
In 1968, he married Carol (Clevenger) Hammond and together they had two children. He retired from the US Navy in 1989 having served on the submarines and as a Naval Recruiter. He then went to work for the US Postal Service as a City Mail Carrier.
In 2011, he married Sandra (Nelson) Hammond and became a stepfather to her three children. He retired from the US Postal Service in 2012 after 21 years of service due to a serious health condition.
Hammond was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Keith Hammons and more recently his youngest brother Mick Hammond.
He is survived by his wife Sandy of the home, son Douglas (Stacey) Nixa, daughter Kelly (former husband Brad) Nixa, his stepchildren, Leah (Cameron) Wilken Kansas City, Haley McKinney St. Louis, Kyle (linsey) McKinney Republic, brother Jerry (Mary Ann) Nixa. He is also survived by six grandchildren, a sister-in-law Debi Hammond, nephew Eric (Brenda) Hammond, nieces Sarah Scott, Janell Franks, Alicia Hammond, and a very special cousin Kate (Bob) Mertsinger, and cousins David Wilson and Chris Wilson.
A special thanks to Dr. Laurance Rhines and MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas for performing a surgery that gave his family 10 additional years with Ronald.
A visitation was from 10-11 a.m. Thursday, Nov 17, 2022 at Meadors Funeral Home in Republic. Funeral services will follow with burial in Rose Hill Cemetery, Billings. Donations in Hammond’s name can be made to C.A.R.E. Animal Rescue (1328-A W. Sunshine Springfield, MO 65807). His final wish was to be buried with his cherished dog Ernie’s ashes. They will be placed with him.