John Billie "Pete" Hamm

John Billie "Pete" Hamm passed away at his home in Clearfield, Kentucky, on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at the age of 95.
Pete was born on March 16, 1930, and spent his childhood years in Rowan and Bath Counties-a source of great pride for him.
After graduating from Morehead High School, he went on to serve his country, spending 20 years in the Air Force. He served during the occupation of Germany, the Korean War, and Vietnam. He retired from the military in October of 1971 and returned home to Morehead with his wife and love of his life, Mary Lou, and their children.
After returning home from his military career, Pete's acts of service continued in the community he loved so dearly.
In 1972, Pete was assigned the task to establish the Morehead Rowan Ambulance Service. He was appointed as director, and with the support of Morehead leadership, he wrote the grant that helped secure the first ambulance for the county. In the early years, Pete served not only as the director, but also as a backup ambulance driver. During his tenure, he had the foresight to continue growing the service. When he retired from the ambulance service in 1992, he had an entire fleet of ambulances and had the first paramedic team on staff.
In May of 2022, the Rowan Fiscal Court announced that funding was secured to establish a second ambulance station in Morehead to meet the growing demand for emergency care in the community. When the station was opened in January 2024 it was named after Pete to honor his dedication and early work with the Morehead Rowan Ambulance Service.
Pete was a long-time member (50 years) of the Corbie Ellington American Legion Post 126. He served veterans and their families for decades in a variety of roles. He was service officer for 11 years, chaplain for 12 years, and a member of the American Legion Honor Guard for 38 years (10 of which he served as Honor Guard Commander). He loved the people he served and the friends he made along the way.
He was a charter member of the Veteran's Association and was involved in the planning, fundraising, research, and building of Freedom Park and the memorial wall in Morehead.
Pete served as a School Board member for twelve years. He was an active member of the Morehead Optimist Club for 38 years.
He loved his church. He was a proud and faithful member of the Clearfield Tabernacle Church of God, where he served on the board and as Sunday School Superintendent for a number of years.
Most recently, Pete was inducted into the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame in September of 2025. This honor recognized Pete not only for his military service but also for the life-long work he did serving his fellow veterans and his community.
Although his list of accomplishments is long-perhaps his proudest achievements were his children-John, Rob and Mary Beth, and his grandchildren-Chelsea, Megan and Kristen.
He never missed a chance to spend time with them, and when they weren't together, he was bragging on them to anyone who would listen.
Pete was a good-natured man with a great sense of humor; he loved cracking jokes and telling stories. He always had an anecdote or an old timey Appalachian saying to fit just about any situation. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing and traveling with family and friends.
Beloved by all who knew him, Pete will certainly be missed, but he lived his life well and enjoyed every moment, something he frequently reminded people of.
He was preceded in death by his father, Johnnie T. Hamm and his mother, Flora M. Hamm, his wife, Mary Louise Koski, siblings: Gene Hamm, Betty Carpenter, Jolene Bentley, Charles Hamm, Marie Reddecliff, Peggy Miller. He is survived by one sister, Virginia Reynolds, three children, John Paul Hamm (Kim Lambert), Robert Gene Hamm (Linda Hamm), and Mary Beth Armstrong (Tommy Armstrong), and three grandchildren Chelsea Armstrong, Megan Armstrong and Kristen Hamm Sharma (Vijyesh Sharma). He is also survived by nieces and nephews and in-laws.
The family would like to offer special thanks to the caregivers that loved and helped care for Pete during the last three years of his life. We are forever grateful.
Funeral services will be conducted at Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals Memorial Chapel in Morehead, Kentucky, on Friday, November 14, at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Saundra Nathanson officiating. The service will be live streamed on Northcutt and Son Home for Funerals Facebook page beginning at 11:00 a.m.
Burial will follow in the Stewart Cemetery with full military honors presented by American Legion Post 126. Members of the Legion will also serve as pallbearers.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, November 13, at Northcutt and Son Home for Funerals, 400 Fraley Drive, Morehead, KY 40351.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to Clearfield Tabernacle Church of God P.O. Box 31, Clearfield KY 40313 or Corbie Ellington American Legion Post 126, P.O. Box 58 Morehead, KY 40351.
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