Ellen Lorraine Hammett

Ellen Lorraine Hammett, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away peacefully at her home in Gulf Shores, Alabama, on January 5, 2025, at the age of 95.

Ellen Lorraine was born on November 15, 1929, in Lawrence, Kansas, to William Taylor Johnson and Elva Van Nuys Hess. At an early age, Ellen Lorraine moved to Ardmore where her father served in the Department of Interior as an educator at the American Indian School at Carter Seminary. Ellen Lorraine grew up intermingling with the Indian students and became well acquainted with the various tribes represented at the School. This fostered a lifelong admiration for Native American tribal customs that remained close to her heart. She was a member of the First Methodist Church and graduated from Ardmore High School in 1948. She later attended the Oklahoma College for Women, in Chickasha.

Ellen Lorraine was a woman of many talents and passions. As a business owner and entrepreneur, she made her mark in Annapolis, Maryland, where she operated a successful yacht financing business. She was also a gifted piano teacher who shared her love of music with many students.

In her leisure time, Ellen Lorraine excelled in sewing, creating remarkable garments that reflected her creativity and skill. She was an avid reader, particularly of historical fiction, and an enthusiastic traveler, enjoying adventures in South America and across the United States.

Ellen Lorraine's legacy lives on in the lives she touched and the family she cherished. She is survived by her son, Mark E. Hammett, three grandchildren, Christian, Benjamin, and Priscila, and six great-grandchildren. Her son, Michael W. Hammett, preceded her in death. Her family will remember her as a vibrant and accomplished woman who inspired those around her with her warmth, resilience, and spirit. Ellen Lorraine will be deeply missed but forever celebrated in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

Interment will be at a future date at the Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola Naval Air Station, in Pensacola, FL. She will be laid to rest next to her husband, Air Force Lt. Col. Floyd E. Hammett. Memorials may be made to the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.