Floyd Eugene Hammontree

Floyd was born in Summit City, MI on August 27, 1932 to Floyd and Helen (Van Pelt) Hammontree. He spent his first years in Kingsley before moving to the Whitehall area.

He remembered fondly his summers in Summit City working on the Van Pelt farm. He really enjoyed working with his young uncles, Chet and Rex, and cousin, Lyle. He explored the banks of the Manistee River where the cows were pastured. There his love of nature grew and that love he would instill in his kids and grandkids. There were many times when “PopPop” would walk with his grandkids around his property, pointing out birds by call or sight or the trees he had painstakingly transplanted.

While in school in Whitehall he met his future and first wife, Claire (Riddell). They married on September 27, 1952 in Whitehall. He went into the Army, served in Germany and was honorably discharged. He received a degree from MSU in Construction Science in 1958. In 1965, he was overjoyed when a career opportunity allowed him to move his family back to Northern MI.

He and Claire built a cottage near Elk Rapids where family and friends spent many summers sailing, swimming, and sitting around beach fires. This trend carried on when they moved south of Traverse City having family and friends over for holidays, family reunions, and many evenings around the bonfire. He enjoyed his own golf course.

He and Claire had planned a life of travel when she was diagnosed with cancer. She preceded him in death on July 3, 1999. We still miss her every day!

While at his 50th class reunion, he re-met Arlyss Childs and they married on February 14, 2003. They have been very happy for over 16 years and have spent the summers in Traverse City and winters in Arlington. They hosted great events at the family home where Floyd mixed and shared a great martini!

Surviving are his wife, Arlyss, brother, Theo (Char), his children, Steve (Rochelle), Christy Dunne, Scott (Lynn) and Thom (Tina), his 8 grandchildren: Evan (Jillian), Sean, Emma, Dylan, Holden, Claire, Lucas and Jack, and his 2 great grandchildren, Tessa and Bennett, sister-in-law Diane Toberman, his stepson, Bobby Troughton and step-grandsons, Tim and Luke.

Floyd had the opportunity in his last few weeks to share with each of his children his description of his life. ”Don’t be sad for me, I’ve had the best life you could imagine. All my life I’ve been surrounded by caring and loving people who I think really liked me for me. I had a job that I loved. I had 50 years with Claire and 20 years with Arlyss. I have four wonderful kids of which I am so proud. I have been one of the luckiest men on earth.” He said these things with a quality of disbelief but to all of us who loved him, he was very deserving of his wonderful life.

Although we mourn, we celebrate having him in our lives. Cremation services handled by Moore Bowen Road Funeral Home, Arlington, TX and arrangements for a memorial are yet to be made.

Peace.