Living Life
February 23, 2022
At the respected age of 78, Lloyd's passing was sudden and completely unexpected.. However thoroughly surrounded by family, friends and loved ones none-the-less.
Born to Julius and Earlene Hammons in Durango, Colorado. The Hammons family moved to Bakersfield, California when Lloyd was five years old; and resided in Kern County the rest of their life. He attended local elementary schools in the Kern County area and Kern Central High School then, known now as Bakersfield High School, where he proudly served in a young military cadet group/club titled "Torch and Sabre." He "proudly" served in the US Air Force for a short period beginning in December of 1956, when he was injured in a horrible parachute accident while in training, and was honorably discharged to his dismay on February 28, 1957, at the prime age of 18.
He was an exceptional marksman when it came to artillery, as he could light a strike anywhere match by a discharged bullet, in order to set off a bottle rocket. He enjoyed his guns so much that he even saved all of his casings after shooting, whether practice or hunt, and always reloaded them personally himself. Molding the bullet heads, with the old school lead, and placing the primer at the bottom of the casing as well. He lived and died by his iron.
In 1969, Lloyd received his High School Diploma through Bakersfield College while he worked two jobs at the same time, and was very proud of this accomplishment. He was an avid reader; he loved to learn and sought to learn whatever he could set his sights on.
Lloyd volunteered with the Kern County Sheriff's Office while he worked those two jobs and attended BC to obtain his higher education certification. Employed by the City of Bakersfield as a jack of all trades; bouncing anywhere from sewer maintenance to powerline tree maintenance, and even in the parks department for a period of time. In this same era he worked at The Valley Plaza mall and or shopping center as a security officer, from February 28, 1968 until 1978 when he decided to become a full time truck driver. He drove for Mairs and Miller Cattle Trucking Co. in the late 70's, early 80's and ultimately retired after 20 plus years from Lone Star Trucking INC (now known as Plains), delivering propane/butane to all the local refineries of the greater Kern County and Los Angeles area. Sometimes, even out of state to Nevada, Oregon, Washington and further up North as far as San Francisco and Sacramento. Through the propane hauling services he received, year after year, awards for thousands of miles for his safe driving techniques that ended with two million miles of safe driving recognition upon retirement in April of 2010.
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He is survived by his Wife of 42 years, Cheryl (Carter) Hammons and his Sister Maxine (Hammons) Keller, both of Bakersfield; Brother-in-law, Farris Carter & Wife Dixie (Lawrence) of Burley, ID; Sister-in-Law, Diana Irene (Carter) Simonson of Malvern, ARK; Sister-in-Law, Lonetta Faye "Lynn" (Carter) & Husband Bruce MacLachlin of Burley, ID; Brother-in-law, Cecil Carter & Wife Norma Lee (Bittle) of Paul, ID; Daughter, Tammy (Hammons) & Husband Brian Keller of Bakersfield; Daughter, Charlie Hammons; Daughter, Wendy C. (Wallace) & Husband Donny R. Martin of Bakersfield; Daughter, Kimberly M. (Wallace) & Husband Darryl E. Burton of Bakersfield; Son, Thomas W. Wallace & Wife Michelle Renee (Cobb) of Bakersfield; Niece/Daughter, Sonett Renee (Keller) & Husband Angelo Reyes of Arizona; Daughter, Ginger (Temple) & Husband Michael Malone of Bakersfield. 25 grandchildren; 11 great- grandchildren; and many, many nieces and nephews. With special mention's of nephews, Ron Keller & Wife Pam of Bakersfield; Don Keller & Wife Jaquie of Visalia, CA; Darrin Carter & Wife Shellie (Bingham) of Heyburn, ID; David Owen Carter of Texas; and niece Robin Lorrita (Keller) & Husband Greg Darter of Bakersfield; Great niece, Natalee (Durham) & Companion Jeffrey Martinez; and Great nephew, Zachary Durham & Wife Samantha with their children Scarlett and Jackson. His family was his life and with his heart made of gold, he lived to serve and protect them.
Lloyd's lived an adventurous life full of family love and honesty, he worked hard at whatever he was doing and always finished the job right. He was loved and respected by everyone he ever met his whole life. With a birth given name of Melvin, he would fight the man who ever referred to him as anything other than "Lloyd."
He loved to hunt, he loved to fish, go rock climbing in his old '69 rusty colored Bronco and was a member of the old school "Trail Blazers" club from 1959-1980; and he loved to go camping. If it had anything to do with outdoors, he was ready to do it. He was also known to ride a bull or a bronc in the local rodeo's and loved to be close to a ranch where he could recall his youngest of days when they rode horses and raised cattle in Colorado. And he didn't always hunt to kill, sometimes he would capture his prey in hopes of taming (or studying) and even domesticating other living creatures. Such as mountain lions and snakes. He worked with our local reptile specialist Al Robbins for several years, and was happy to do so. He also had a real connection with animals, particularly dogs and horses, and he related with them deeply.
Especially his little Queensland Heeler named "Blue." She was deputized, unofficially, in 1986 by our wonderful BPD when she was able to avoid biting or hurting all police officers while taking down a car thief who was hiding in "her" yard. She knew a threat insatiably. Lloyd trained her to be a highly strong willed guard dog, who was weighed down by an unanchored chain around her neck, in order to prevent her from jumping the 6' tall fence line. Which happened anyhow, for a peeping tom sneaking around in our bushes and looking into the windows. Old Blue chased the culprit down the block and attacked him, to which she was quarantined over, because the perpetrator had the audacity to file a complaint as he was hospitalized through Blue's protection of our home. And of course we have his Kota bear, his little Rat Terrier, who Lloyd believed understood him better than any human ever could.
He always felt as if he was the dumbest man on earth (his own words, not ours), but we always felt like he was the all time "Legend" of his time, and in our family. Lloyd was the epitome of humility and pride all wrapped up in one person being.
Preceded in death by his mother and father, Julius & Earlene (Tyre) Hammons; his Brother, Donald E. Hammons; a granddaughter Katelynn Marie Wallace; his Brother-in-law, Ray Maxwell Keller; Mother-in-law, Orthy Helen (Lewis) Carter; Sister-in-law, Pamela Aniece Carter; Nephew, Jimmy Dean Beggs; Brother-in-law, Joel "Devon" Carter; Sister-in-Law, Shirlene Belle (Lawrence) Carter; Sister-in-Law, Ruby "Imogene" (Carter) McKim; Brother-in-law, Bobby Leroy "Roy" Carter; Brother-in-Law, Tony Carter; Sister-in-Law Rebecca "Becky" (Jones) Carter; Sister-in-Law, Martha (Jones) Carter and Niece, Connie Sue Carter; and we musn't forget his diehard "sidekick" David Sienes.
A "Celebration of Life" to honor Lloyd will be held on Friday, April 21, 2017 at 5:30 pm in the New Life Terrace Campus Church (710 Terrace Way) in Bakersfield with Pastor Bart Hight officiating. We thank everyone for all the prayers, love and support in our family's time of sorrow and grief.
Published in part, to The Bakersfield Californian on Apr. 20, 2017
Born to Julius and Earlene Hammons in Durango, Colorado. The Hammons family moved to Bakersfield, California when Lloyd was five years old; and resided in Kern County the rest of their life. He attended local elementary schools in the Kern County area and Kern Central High School then, known now as Bakersfield High School, where he proudly served in a young military cadet group/club titled "Torch and Sabre." He "proudly" served in the US Air Force for a short period beginning in December of 1956, when he was injured in a horrible parachute accident while in training, and was honorably discharged to his dismay on February 28, 1957, at the prime age of 18.
He was an exceptional marksman when it came to artillery, as he could light a strike anywhere match by a discharged bullet, in order to set off a bottle rocket. He enjoyed his guns so much that he even saved all of his casings after shooting, whether practice or hunt, and always reloaded them personally himself. Molding the bullet heads, with the old school lead, and placing the primer at the bottom of the casing as well. He lived and died by his iron.
In 1969, Lloyd received his High School Diploma through Bakersfield College while he worked two jobs at the same time, and was very proud of this accomplishment. He was an avid reader; he loved to learn and sought to learn whatever he could set his sights on.
Lloyd volunteered with the Kern County Sheriff's Office while he worked those two jobs and attended BC to obtain his higher education certification. Employed by the City of Bakersfield as a jack of all trades; bouncing anywhere from sewer maintenance to powerline tree maintenance, and even in the parks department for a period of time. In this same era he worked at The Valley Plaza mall and or shopping center as a security officer, from February 28, 1968 until 1978 when he decided to become a full time truck driver. He drove for Mairs and Miller Cattle Trucking Co. in the late 70's, early 80's and ultimately retired after 20 plus years from Lone Star Trucking INC (now known as Plains), delivering propane/butane to all the local refineries of the greater Kern County and Los Angeles area. Sometimes, even out of state to Nevada, Oregon, Washington and further up North as far as San Francisco and Sacramento. Through the propane hauling services he received, year after year, awards for thousands of miles for his safe driving techniques that ended with two million miles of safe driving recognition upon retirement in April of 2010.
.
He is survived by his Wife of 42 years, Cheryl (Carter) Hammons and his Sister Maxine (Hammons) Keller, both of Bakersfield; Brother-in-law, Farris Carter & Wife Dixie (Lawrence) of Burley, ID; Sister-in-Law, Diana Irene (Carter) Simonson of Malvern, ARK; Sister-in-Law, Lonetta Faye "Lynn" (Carter) & Husband Bruce MacLachlin of Burley, ID; Brother-in-law, Cecil Carter & Wife Norma Lee (Bittle) of Paul, ID; Daughter, Tammy (Hammons) & Husband Brian Keller of Bakersfield; Daughter, Charlie Hammons; Daughter, Wendy C. (Wallace) & Husband Donny R. Martin of Bakersfield; Daughter, Kimberly M. (Wallace) & Husband Darryl E. Burton of Bakersfield; Son, Thomas W. Wallace & Wife Michelle Renee (Cobb) of Bakersfield; Niece/Daughter, Sonett Renee (Keller) & Husband Angelo Reyes of Arizona; Daughter, Ginger (Temple) & Husband Michael Malone of Bakersfield. 25 grandchildren; 11 great- grandchildren; and many, many nieces and nephews. With special mention's of nephews, Ron Keller & Wife Pam of Bakersfield; Don Keller & Wife Jaquie of Visalia, CA; Darrin Carter & Wife Shellie (Bingham) of Heyburn, ID; David Owen Carter of Texas; and niece Robin Lorrita (Keller) & Husband Greg Darter of Bakersfield; Great niece, Natalee (Durham) & Companion Jeffrey Martinez; and Great nephew, Zachary Durham & Wife Samantha with their children Scarlett and Jackson. His family was his life and with his heart made of gold, he lived to serve and protect them.
Lloyd's lived an adventurous life full of family love and honesty, he worked hard at whatever he was doing and always finished the job right. He was loved and respected by everyone he ever met his whole life. With a birth given name of Melvin, he would fight the man who ever referred to him as anything other than "Lloyd."
He loved to hunt, he loved to fish, go rock climbing in his old '69 rusty colored Bronco and was a member of the old school "Trail Blazers" club from 1959-1980; and he loved to go camping. If it had anything to do with outdoors, he was ready to do it. He was also known to ride a bull or a bronc in the local rodeo's and loved to be close to a ranch where he could recall his youngest of days when they rode horses and raised cattle in Colorado. And he didn't always hunt to kill, sometimes he would capture his prey in hopes of taming (or studying) and even domesticating other living creatures. Such as mountain lions and snakes. He worked with our local reptile specialist Al Robbins for several years, and was happy to do so. He also had a real connection with animals, particularly dogs and horses, and he related with them deeply.
Especially his little Queensland Heeler named "Blue." She was deputized, unofficially, in 1986 by our wonderful BPD when she was able to avoid biting or hurting all police officers while taking down a car thief who was hiding in "her" yard. She knew a threat insatiably. Lloyd trained her to be a highly strong willed guard dog, who was weighed down by an unanchored chain around her neck, in order to prevent her from jumping the 6' tall fence line. Which happened anyhow, for a peeping tom sneaking around in our bushes and looking into the windows. Old Blue chased the culprit down the block and attacked him, to which she was quarantined over, because the perpetrator had the audacity to file a complaint as he was hospitalized through Blue's protection of our home. And of course we have his Kota bear, his little Rat Terrier, who Lloyd believed understood him better than any human ever could.
He always felt as if he was the dumbest man on earth (his own words, not ours), but we always felt like he was the all time "Legend" of his time, and in our family. Lloyd was the epitome of humility and pride all wrapped up in one person being.
Preceded in death by his mother and father, Julius & Earlene (Tyre) Hammons; his Brother, Donald E. Hammons; a granddaughter Katelynn Marie Wallace; his Brother-in-law, Ray Maxwell Keller; Mother-in-law, Orthy Helen (Lewis) Carter; Sister-in-law, Pamela Aniece Carter; Nephew, Jimmy Dean Beggs; Brother-in-law, Joel "Devon" Carter; Sister-in-Law, Shirlene Belle (Lawrence) Carter; Sister-in-Law, Ruby "Imogene" (Carter) McKim; Brother-in-law, Bobby Leroy "Roy" Carter; Brother-in-Law, Tony Carter; Sister-in-Law Rebecca "Becky" (Jones) Carter; Sister-in-Law, Martha (Jones) Carter and Niece, Connie Sue Carter; and we musn't forget his diehard "sidekick" David Sienes.
A "Celebration of Life" to honor Lloyd will be held on Friday, April 21, 2017 at 5:30 pm in the New Life Terrace Campus Church (710 Terrace Way) in Bakersfield with Pastor Bart Hight officiating. We thank everyone for all the prayers, love and support in our family's time of sorrow and grief.
Published in part, to The Bakersfield Californian on Apr. 20, 2017