Grace Jane Black Hammond

Grace, 93, passed away peacefully in her home in Woodland Park, Colorado on October 18th, 2025.
She was born on November 2, 1931, to Earl and Edith Maze in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She had one brother, Bob Maze. Grace graduated from Belleview High School in 1949 and a year later, at the age of 18, married James Alexander Black on July 29, 1950. The newlyweds immediately left for a new life of adventure in Venezuela, working for Gulf Oil Company.
Her many interests included art, jewelry making, writing, gourmet cooking and making a "home away from home" in nine foreign countries for Jim and their five children. Their assignments took them to Venezuela, Bolivia, Columbia, Argentina, Nigeria, England, Norway, Ireland and Indonesia. Her dream as a young girl was to travel and have a life of adventure, and she did that 1000 times over.
Grace and Jim retired in 1985 to Woodland Park, Colorado. They made many new friends and enjoyed the birth and formative years of eight grandchildren. Grace also considered herself lucky to get to know all eight great grandchildren.
Jim passed away in 2001. Later, she married an old friend, Maury Hammond in 2004. Then began new adventures in gem and gold mining in Alaska! She eventually published a book about her life titled "My Adventures".
Grace is survived by four children: Karen McLaughlin, Barbara Betancourt (Nelson), Claire Bertsch (Mike), John Black (Sharon) and her son-in-law, Duncan Harding; eight grandchildren (Ryan, Sean Jessie, Cara, Jared, Aislinn, J.C., Ashley) and eight great grandchildren (Jada, Finley, Eden, Cayden, Cienna, Hudson, Kinsey and Hunter). She is also survived by four stepchildren from her marriage with Maury Hammond, Terry Medico (Andrew), Debbie Hammond, Susan Hammond, and Maury Hammond, Jr. (Karen), plus eight step grandchildren (Audrey, Trey, Patrick, Brett, Katie, Rachel, Sarah, Rebekah).
Grace was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Black and her 2nd husband, Maury Hammond, daughter Susan Harding, infant son James Black, and brother Bob Maze.
"Amazing Grace" was truly a remarkable woman, loved and cherished by her immediate and extended family. She traveled the world and had many dear friends. Quotes from her book state, "I married adventure" and "I personally found my gold - my friends, my family, my God and of course, my wonderful husbands!"
Grace was courageous, strong, steadfast, loving, stylish, young at heart and yes, adventurous. She had a deep influence on all our lives and will be greatly missed by all her family and friends.
A Memorial Celebration of Life will be held at her home in Woodland Park, 303 Ute Trail on November 15th from 1-4pm.
Cards may be sent to P. O. Box 549, Woodland Park, Colorado 80863
Donations may be sent to Mountain View United Methodist Church, via the online site at www.mountainviewumcwp.com
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