Elizabeth Hammer

Elizabeth (Purcell) Hammer, 102, passed from this life on July 17, 2016 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was born on December 31, 1913 in Fairland, Oklahoma, the daughter of Arthur Purcell and Rachel (Smith) Purcell. Elizabeth's childhood began Southwest of Zena, OK where the family lived on Downing Creek, a tributary East of the Neosho River. In 1920, the family moved into a home on her mother's 80 acre Indian allotment, resulting from the Dawes Act of 1887. The property is just East of sailboat bridge, where you can still see the part of the property, as it remains an island on Grand Lake. Her childhood was spent growing up on the family farm, and at the age of 8, Elizabeth was able to prepare and cook a family meal. In 1928, Elizabeth's family moved to the McNair district, in Mayes County. This farm was slightly Northeast of the intersection of Grand River and Hwy 412. Elizabeth attended Chouteau High School, where she graduated in 1932. She recently attended her 84th High School reunion. Elizabeth attended and graduated from Northeastern State University and began her teaching career in 1933 where she earned $60 per month. She began teaching in rural Oklahoma schools, in places such as Cave Springs, Iron Post, Osage and Ogretta. She took seven years off to raise her two young children and also worked at the Department of Human Services. After a courtship which began during the summer of 1936, she married Ellsworth H. Hammer in Eufaula, Oklahoma on December 31, 1937. Sunday April the 10th, 1938, Elizabeth went to the Pryor, First United Methodist church for the first time, and attended church and Sunday school on a regular basis. Not one to stay out of teaching, Elizabeth came out of semi-retirement in 1962 and picked up a short-term teaching assignment at Claremore, OK Will Rogers Junior High. This short-term assignment ended up lasting 15 years, and she retired (again) from teaching in 1977. She received a Pioneer Teacher Award signed by then Governor, Brad Henry, for her efforts within the rural schools of Oklahoma. She remained very active in the community, and participated within the Red Hat Society and the Mayes County Business and Professional Woman's Club. She was also a volunteer at the Mayes County Medical Center. In later years, she enjoyed spending time with her family, including her children, grandson and great-grandchildren, and caregiver Allison Duffield. She was a lovely lady of faith who will be so very missed by all whose lives she touched. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, July 21, 2016 at 2:00 pm in the First United Methodist Church in Pryor, OK with Rev. Roger Parker officiating. Interment will follow in the Fairview Cemetery with Alan Yarborough, Flynn Strickland, John Mozingo, Randy Drake, Donnie Parsons, Dean Robertson and Terry Lamar (honorary) serving as casket bearers. A reception at the First United Methodist church will be held after grave side services have been completed. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday evening from 6-8 p.m To leave a personal message to her family, please see her Book of Memories at www.shipmansfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Shipman's Funeral & Cremation Service. She is survived by her daughter Peggy J. Yarborough of Tulsa, OK; son Elsworth H. Hammer of Pryor, OK; one grandson, Alan Yarborough; two great grandchildren, Elizabeth Anne Yarborough and Alan Jeffrey Yarborough Jr.; one niece, Susan Anders of Chouteau, OK; one nephew Earl Johnson Jr. of Lee Summit, MO; and several great nieces, nephews, family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Rachel Purcell; her husband, Ellsworth H. Hammer; sisters, Fern Anders and Ferrol Johnson.

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