MIKE HAMMETT

1956 - 2018

HAMMETT, Michael Starr of Pink Mountain, British Columbia born May 13, 1956 in Oceanside, California to Dillard and Georganna Hammett, passed away August 12, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Mike's family moved all over the U.S. and Canada during his childhood, eventually settling in Dallas, Texas. It was there he met the love of his life, Dixie (Houser) Hammett at just 14 years old in youth group at Walnut Hill United Methodist Church. He graduated from W.T. White High School in 1974 and married Dixie at that very church January 8, 1977.
Mike always dreamed of being an outfitter and dedicated years of his life to training to obtain skills he would need to succeed, including earning his pilot's license in 1978. His career began at Higgins Ranch in Pinedale, Wyoming as cowboy and ranch manager. He and Dixie then welcomed their three children into the world, Carolina, Zach, and Jenny. Mike then worked as a guide for Box R Ranch in Pinedale. His outfitting career started at Bighorn Outfitters in Salmon, Idaho. The Hammett's eventually moved to Pink Mountain, British Columbia where Mike & Dixie started Sikanni River Outfitting. Mike's passion for hunting and fishing was evident to all who had the pleasure of working with, and for, him. He mentored countless men and women throughout his 40+ year career and made an unforgettable impact on the industry.
More than an outfitter though, Mike was a devoted husband, father, and 'Pops' extraordinaire. A true renaissance man, he could fix anything, build anything you could imagine, and could out tell any story you could dream up.
Mike is survived by his mother Georganna Hammett, his beloved wife of 41 years Dixie Hammett, daughter Carolina Cunningham and husband Rob, son Zachary and wife Cathrine, daughter Jennifer Kolbensvik, grandchildren Cooper, Georgia, and Dixie Ruth Cunningham and Melody Starr Kolbensvik. He is also survived by his sister Karen Hammett, sister Lee Anne Harvey and husband Alex, brother Jeff Hammett and wife Nicola, brother-in-law Mark Houser and wife Lou, along with several nieces, nephews, great nieces, cousins and many close friends. Mike is preceded in death by his father Dillard Starr Hammett, brother Mark Alan Hammett, father-in-law Ezra Carol Houser, mother-in-law Betty Sue Houser, sister-in-law Carol Lynn Wise and son-in-law Jeremiah Kolbensvik.
Two services will be held in order to celebrate a life as legendary as Mike's. The first will be September 17, 2018 at 1pm at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church in Norman, Oklahoma. The second will be November 21, 2018 at 2pm at Pomeroy Hotel in Fort St. John, British Columbia.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Pathfinders Foundation, a program near to Mike's heart helping disabled veterans and youth with incurable diseases explore the world of hunting. Donations can be made to: NEMSCI c/o Suzanne Wilmot 468 S. Ripley Blvd., PMB #118, Alpena, MI 49707, ph: (248)521-1524.
The family would like to thank the many people that took such incredible care of Mike during his battle with cancer: Dr. Michael Wright, Dr. John Breen, Dr. Daniel Renouf, Dr. Maja Segedi, and the countless nurses and clinicians at Fort St. John Hospital, Fort St. John Cancer Centre, and Vancouver General Hospital. And to the extraordinary staff and clients of SRO for your unwavering support throughout this ordeal and continuing to honor Mike's legacy, we thank you.