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Submitted: 6/4/19 • Approved: 6/16/19 • Last Updated: 6/19/19 • R1272131-G0-S3
US Army
Military Police
World War II
March 29, 1925 - November 8, 2016
Served in the army from 1943 - 1956
Served as a fireman from 1955 - 1958
Grey Collier Hamer, Jr. of Lake Stevens, born 3/29/1925 in Alma, Arkansas, passed away peacefully in his sleep on 11/8/2016. He is survived by his wife Kate, daughters Kathie Gortner and Roxanne Lobnow and son Ken Lobnow; grandson Kenneth Lobnow and granddaughter Kali Lobnow; sisters Patricia Gould and Alma Williams, as well as a large extended family. He is preceded in death by his parents Grey Collier Hamer and Janie Hightower, and older brothers Jimmy Hamilton and Robroy Hamilton.
Grey spent his early years working on the family farm in Arkansas and moved to Washington State for employment opportunities in the early 1950’s. He bought his home in Lake Stevens (then Everett) and lived there over 60 years. In 1993 he repeated a marriage proposal to Kate (Perdue) who he had proposed to when she was 16 years old. This time she said yes. They spent 23 happy years together (two sisters married to two brothers).
Grey was a veteran of the US Army and served from 1943-1946 as an MP and 1955-1958 as a firefighter. He received an honorable discharge. He worked tirelessly for many years as an active member and office holder in VFW Post 921 in Snohomish. He loved spending time with family and always had a story to bring laughter to the group. He had many careers including mail carrier and firefighter, raised and sold rabbits, and spent over 40 years as a contractor/building remodeler who could fix anything. He was forever coming up with plans about how to make airplanes safer, tires more durable and a thousand other ideas.
He would give the shirt off his back and helped those in need without a thought for himself. He viewed each day as a gift from God and shined his smile and love on everyone he met. He showed by example that family, friends, love and faith are the cornerstones of life. Grey will be honored, celebrated and loved as long as there is family on this earth.
Contributed on 6/4/19 by billsully060
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Record #: 1272131