Jane Dolores Hamm

Jane Dolores (Schultz) Hamm died March 10, 2004 at her home in La Grande, Oregon. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Hank Albrecht on Tuesday, March 16, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in La Grande. Private inurnment will take place at a later date.

Mrs. Hamm was born in San Francisco to Florence (McElroy) and Carl Schultz on September 30, 1923. Carl Schultz died shortly after Jane's birth and she was raised by her mother and stepfather, Frank Hobson, a San Francisco police detective. Mrs. Hamm attended San Francisco State College and joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943. While stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, she met William D. Hamm, also a Marine. They were married in 1945 in New Bern, North Carolina. William Hamm died on July 11, 1965.

In the early years of their marriage the couple resided in Hermiston, Oregon where Mrs. Hamm taught piano lessons while starting a family. The couple later moved to Pendleton. Mrs. Hamm worked at the Umatilla County Library (now Pendelton Public Library) from 1966 until 1970. She moved to Boca Raton, Florida in 1971 and was assistant librarian at the Pompano Beach Public Library in Pampano Beach, Florida. Mrs. Hamm later moved back to Oregon and worked in both Pendleton and La Grande while employed as housekeeper at Catholic rectories. She later worked for Equifax and was Assistant Manager of Camlu in Pendleton.

Mrs. Hamm was a member of Catholic Daughters of America for many years. For several years Mrs. Hamm was a hospice volunteer. Mrs. Hamm was an accomplished concert pianist, a voracious reader and an excellent cook. She enjoyed playing bridge and thoroughly enjoyed feeding and watching her animal friends. Mrs. Hamm was devoted to her family and will be remembered as a lady of grace and a wonderful mother and grandmother. Mrs. Hamm is survived by her four children: sons, Walter H. Hamm and his wife, Nancy of Pendleton and Joseph W. Hamm and companion Glenis Harrison; daughters, Sara Jane Williamson and Barbara E. Brown and husband Jim, all of La Grande; grandchildren, Guy Hamm and Heather Thornburg of Pendleton, Robert Williamson and wife, Becky, Steven Williamson, Julie Williamson and Doug Brown, all of La Grande; great grandchildren, Chelsea, Tanner and Sean. She was preceded in death by a sister, Barbara Stevens Throolin of Boca Raton, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: St. Mary's Regional Cancer Center in care of Daniels Chapel of the Valley, 1502 7th Street, La Grande, Oregon 97850.