Clifton "LaRoy" Hammer

Clifton LaRoy Hammer loved husband, father and grandfather passed away June 15, 2015 at the age of 78. A native Houstonian, LaRoy was born at home on August 20, 1936 to Calvin and Nellie Hammer. He graduated from Humble High School where he regularly attended yearly reunions with long-time friends. During his time as an engineering student at the University of Houston, LaRoy met and married “the love of his life and most trusted companion” Barbara Ann Daniells on November 22, 1959. LaRoy and Barbara celebrated more than 55 adventurous years together and were blessed with two children and five grandchildren who he loved and cherished every day of his joyous life.

In his early years LaRoy was a trumpet player in the Cougar marching band, awarded the Boy Scouts of America Order of the Arrow and started a life-long love affair with baseball which would drive him to coach his children’s baseball and softball teams and eventually lead him to a decade long run with the Houston area senior softball league.

Always passionate about his work LaRoy started his career while still in college as a draftsman at Stewart and Stevenson where over his 42 year career he rose to senior vice president and dream creator launching the FMTV government truck program. Together he and the team, that quickly became known as “LaRoy’s Sealy Family”, won a large government tactical vehicle contract in 1991 worth upward of $10 billion over 20 years manufacturing more than 50,000 next-generation military trucks and employing thousands of people in and around Sealy, Texas. Besides his family, LaRoy counted his career as one of the “most remarkable times of his life”.

Counting time with his family as the most important aspect of his life, LaRoy expressed his love through memorable family/friend trips to his beloved Hawaiian islands; his photography capturing decades of cherished moments and his hosting of parties from annual company/family Christmases to his Aloha themed 70th birthday.

LaRoy was raised in the Methodist church and also faithfully attended St. Cecilia Catholic church with his family for the last 45 years. While giving back to the church he also generously participated for more than 25 years in fundraising for the Ronald McDonald House and City ArtWorks.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory: wife Barbara Hammer; daughter LaRetta Hammer-Bertram; son Dan Hammer and wife Kim; grandchildren Peyton, Ben, and Luke Bertram and Wyatt and Riggs Hammer; brother James and wife Helen; sister and brother-in-law Patsy and Felix Scardino; brother-in-law Dennis Galvan; many special nieces and nephews and countless cherished friends. He is preceded in death by his parents Calvin and Nellie and his brother Douglas; sister-in-law Kay Galvan and son-in-law David Bertram.

LaRoy’s best advice was to dream big and dream he did. We hold most dear to us that his dreams came true in a richly lived and abundantly fulfilled life surrounded by people who love him.

Visitation will be held from 5 – 7 p.m. Sunday, June 21 with a 7 p.m. vigil to follow both to be held at Earthman Funeral Directors 8303 Katy Freeway Houston, Texas 77024. The church service will be held at 10:30 a.m., June 22 at St. Cecilia Catholic Church 11720 Joan of Arc Drive Houston, Texas 77024 with a reception immediately following at the church community center. Interment to follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.

Flowers or donations are also welcome. Donations may be made in “memory of LaRoy Hammer” to City ArtWorks 1331-R Wirt Road Houston, TX 77055 or the Ronald McDonald House Houston 1907 Holcombe Blvd Houston, TX 77030