Shirley Hammer

1929 - 2016

Shirley Hammer

On Friday, April 8th Shirley Hammer passed away peacefully at her Palm Springs home surrounded by her children. Shirley was born on July 23, 1929, to Wesley and Cecile (Bump) Henderson in Des Moines, Iowa. Shirley grew up on a farm in Madrid, Iowa, where as a young girl, she raised Red Duroc hogs, claiming the grand champion prize at the Iowa State Fair. Shirley attended secretarial school in Des Moines, Iowa where she was awarded a degree. She was working for an insurance company when she met her future husband, Joe W. Hammer. Shirley and Joe spent 52 wonderful years together until his death in 2001. They raised four children, spending half the year in Clare, Iowa where they farmed and the other half at their winter home in Palm Springs, CA. Shirley was past president of the Palm Springs Republican Women, the League of Women Voters and the founder and past president of the Palm Springs Writers Guild. An avid ice skater in her 60's, Shirley was a member of the Desert Blades, and also enjoyed ballroom dancing throughout her 70's. In later years she would enjoy dinner nearly every night at her favorite restaurant, Billy Reed's in Palm Springs where she had many friends. Shirley was preceded in death by her husband Joe in 2001 and their eldest son, Jim, in 1998. Shirley is survived by three children, daughters Cynthia and Marianne Hammer, son Joe Hammer, three grandchildren Sterling Hammer, Elizabeth Hammer and Caroline Hammer, and numerous nieces and nephews. Shirley will be missed by those who knew and loved her. A wake and rosary will take place Thursday, April 14, 2016 at Wiefels Palm Springs Chapel. A full Catholic funeral mass service will be held at Our Lady of Solitude Church in Palm Springs, CA on Friday, April 15, 2016 at 1pm with a graveside service to follow. Interment will be beside Shirley's beloved husband, Joe, at Desert Memorial Park, Cathedral City, CA.