Michael "Mike" Hammontree

Michael (Mike) J. Hammontree, 81, of Columbus, Ohio, died peacefully on September 4, 2025, following a short illness. Born July 5, 1944, in Salina, Kansas, to Ernest "Ham" Hammontree and Cecilia Chase, Mike attended Sacred Heart Hight School and often told stories of his athletic prowess on the pitcher's mound and as the football quarterback. (Several old classmates mentioned Mike's athleticism in their condolence messages following his death, which would make Mike eternally proud.) An only child, his bedroom growing up was in the converted porch of his parents' rented home, which was barely insulated and meant enduring the miserable heat of Kansas summers and the cold and wind in the winter. From this upbringing came his greatest life-long enemy, humidity, and many years of just a little too much air conditioning for everyone close to him. Mike attended Benedictine College in Atchison, Kanas, but left school after two years. He ascribed his early departure from college to poor grades caused by his majoring in "beer drinking and bull sh*tting." He joined the Lee Company, a hardware distributor, in Salina as a traveling salesman, eventually moving a short distance west to Hays, Kansas, to cover a territory of local hardware stores in western Kansas. The Lee Company gave Mike the "Top Salesman" award several years running, and to the end Mike could tell you the part number for a particular screw, tool, or appliance that you might need. A long-time member of the Knights of Columbus, the Elks Club, and the United Commercial Travelers of America (UCT), Mike moved to Columbus, Ohio, in 1987 to become the Fraternal Director for UCT and later Senior Vice-President. The family joined him there in 1988. Mike traveled extensively throughout the United States to drum up business for UCT and was proud to be a United "million miler" flying only domestic flights. After he retired, Mike passed the time reading, traveling, and serving as unpaid help for his wife, Martha, in her job. Speaking of Martha, Mike would recount that he first met her when he was seven years old joining his Dad, Ham, for a delivery to the Easterday house. Noting to himself that the young girl who answered the door was "pretty cute," they would later marry at ages 20 and 19, respectively, in 1965, and remain together for 60 years. Ascribing their marital longevity to their ability to "bicker," he remained devoted to her to the end. He is also survived by his beloved children, Kirsten, Michael, Amy (John Pack), and Jason (Andrea Fears), and his six grandchildren. Lamenting his only child status, Mike also considered the extended Easterday clan his own. To his family, Mike could be a demanding figure, encouraging excellence and never handing out false praise or shying away from giving his honest opinion. But he was also the person to call for candid advice, and when he offered his approval, it meant everything. To friends and colleagues, Mike was known for his sly smile and his witty-though often inappropriate-remarks meant to get a laugh. We love and greatly miss you, Mike-our Husband, Dad, Gramps, and Friend. A visitation will be held on Friday, September 12, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Rutherford Corbin Funeral Home, 515 High Street, Worthington, Ohio. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, September 13, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 5750 N High St, also in Worthington. The burial will take place at a later date in Salina, Kansas