Douglas Lee Hammitt

Doug was born March 9, 1934, the last son of eleven children, to DeeCort and Bessie (Durkee) Hammitt, in his beloved childhood home in Alcester, South Dakota. He deeply loved his family and hometown, and spoke fondly of his childhood raised with values of strong devotion to family, neighborly love, Sunday church, civic duty and the hard work ethic of his parents. He was so proud of his loving mom raising 11 children, and his father, the band director of South Dakota State Band and composer of the South Dakota State Song, ‘Hail, South Dakota’.

He moved with his family to Sacramento, CA as a teenager, and graduated from San Juan High School. He went on to become a graduate of American River Junior College, class of 1956, then graduated from the California College of Podiatric Medicine, receiving his BS Degree and his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine in 1960. He practiced as a Doctor of Podiatry and Foot Surgery in Sacramento, CA from 1965 - 2002. He served the Sacramento Valley Podiatry Society as president and secretary-treasurer, and also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the California Podiatric Medical Association. Additionally, he served as an expert Medical Consultant for the Medical Board of California Quality Assurance. His profession was truly a calling; he took great satisfaction in bringing comfort and relief to his patients, and bettering the quality of their lives. He was a well loved and respected doctor with long and enduring friendships with many of his patients.

Doug met Diane Watson in his podiatry practice, and they were married in Sacramento, CA on December 3, 1966. Their son Jason was born June 4, 1967 and their daughter Shannon was born December 10, 1969. For 16 years they took great joy in many weekend adventures to the beach, camping, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and June Lake with friends, hosting family holidays in their home, swimming in their custom-made foot-shaped pool, playing tennis and running along the American River.

On October 17, 1985 Doug married Marene Emerson in Carmichael, CA and gained two loving step-children, Janet Emerson-Shea and Michael Emerson. Doug and Marene were married 32 years.

For 20 of those years they served together in the Podiatry practice, with Marene as assistant and office manager, caring for patients as a true team, with excellence and love. A favorite part of their life together was their vacation home in Lake Tahoe, where they enjoyed skiing, snowshoeing and hiking with family and friends. Doug’s grandson, Ian Douglas Walker, was born to his daughter Shannon Hammitt Walker and son-in-law Frank Walker, in 2005. Trips with Ian fishing, to the beach, Folsom Zoo, Tahoe, riding swings in the park, hiking, helping with homework, and babysitting his grandson became the delight of his retirement years.

Doug was happy fishing anywhere along the Yuba or American River, playing basketball, a good golf game with buddies, or cheering on the 49ers. He would often say his greatest delights were simple joys — time with his family, his dogs, and his friends. His care for others was also displayed in his faithful contributions for decades to charities such as Fishes and Loaves, The Union Gospel Mission, and Wounded Warrior Project.

Doug is survived by his son Jason Douglas Hammitt of Rancho Cordova; daughter Shannon Hammitt Walker (Frank) of Rocklin; grandson Ian Walker of Rocklin; stepdaughter Jan Emerson-Shea of Fair Oaks; stepson Michael (Leanne) Emerson of Wenatchee, WA; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 10 am at Mount Vernon Memorial Park, 8201 Greenback Lane, Fair Oaks.

Flowers for Celebration of Life can be sent to Mount Vernon Memorial Park.

Also in honor of Doug’s love for the Sierras and health of the forest, a Tribute can be made in his name at Sugar Pine Tree Foundation https://sugarpinefoundation.org, or a tree planted in his honor in a California National Forest https://shop.alivingtribute.org/products/plant-a-tree-california

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