Margaret "Peg" Wickham Hammer

Peg was born June 10, 1947 in Omaha, Nebraska, one of twins alongside her sister Pamela. From the very beginning, Peg’s life was marked by remarkable resilience. She and her twin were born with severe scoliosis, and both endured years of medical hardship — including corrective rods, iron lung support, and complications that kept Peg from a traditional schooling path. Their story was extraordinary enough to be featured in local news articles. Through it all, Peg persevered, attending Pius X High School in Lincoln, Nebraska, eventually earning her GED, and carrying the quiet strength that would define her entire life.

She met and married Larry Don Hammer, a Vietnam veteran, and together they built a life rooted in faith, family, and love. Peg worked as a printer at Sunset Magazine and Mid-America Webpress before devoting herself fully to her family. When she and Larry were led by faith to adopt their two sons, Neeman and Nicholas, Peg embraced motherhood with her whole heart, pouring herself into raising her boys and making a warm, welcoming home. The family lived for many years in the Bennett Valley area of Santa Rosa, California, where their ward community became a cherished extended family.

In 2005, feeling inspired and guided by faith, Peg and Larry made their home in Cedar City, Utah, where they spent eleven cherished years surrounded by the beauty of the American Southwest and the warmth of a close community. In 2016, they relocated to San Antonio, Texas, to be near family, where she lived until her passing.

Peg was a lifelong, active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to which she and Larry were converts. Her faith was central to who she was — imperfect, honest, and deeply real. She loved God and lived generously. She was known for her signature pixie haircut, her quick wit, and her willingness to speak her mind on absolutely anything. She was fiercely proud of her boys and wanted nothing more than for them to live happy, fulfilling lives. She cheered loudly for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the San Antonio Spurs, loved crafting, ceramics, puzzles, reading, and shopping — with a particular weakness for shoes. She could often be found settled in with an episode of Dateline, content and at home in the world she had built.

Peg was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Larry Don Hammer; her mother, Patricia Wickham; her twin sister, Pam Westcott; her sister, Ruth Ray; her brothers, William Wickham, Tim Wickham, and Scott Wickham; brothers-in-law Tom Roach, Denver Ray, Bruce Hammer, Ray Hammer, and Keith Hammer; her nephew Thomas Ray; great-niece Jami Martinez; and great-nephew Samuel Wickham.

She is survived by her sons Neeman Hammer of Santa Rosa, California, and Nicholas Alexander Hammer (Stephanie) of St. George, Utah; her grandchildren Ivy Dawn (Neeman), and Beckham, Boston, Theodore, and Kit (Nick); her sisters Ellen Schrader (Kenny) and Judy Kramer (Larry); her brother Chris Wickham; her sister-in-law Brenda Meinke; and many beloved nieces and nephews including Kimberly Ross, Cynthia Hartz, Michelle Davis, Jason Roach, Eric Krefels, Molly Steinkemper, Cody Wickham, Patty Hernandez, Jennifer Ray, Christine Kramer, Kelsey Kramer, Sean Wickham, and Terry Wickham; as well as many great-nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews. She will be missed beyond measure.

Those who wish to honor Peg’s memory may consider a donation to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at donations.ChurchofJesusChrist.org