HUTCHINSON — Leona Marie Hammer, 88, died Jan. 21 at Elm Grove Estates in Hutchinson. She was born Jan. 31, 1922 at Dodge City the daughter of Roy and Goldie (Smith) Rankin.

She married Howard H. "Red" Hammer on Jan. 2, 1943 at Evanston, Wyoming. He died Dec. 2, 2001.

She was owner and operator of Town Crier Bookstore in Junction City. Mrs. Hammer was a Hutchinson resident. She had lived in Pratt, Utah, Junction City and had been a long-time resident of Great Bend.

She is survived by: one son, Steve Hammer of Alta Dena, Calif.; and two sisters, Iolene Turner of Hutchinson and Elaine Fulton of Strong City.

The funeral service will be on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. The officiant will be Rev. Loyce Clay. Interment will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Visitation is from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at Bryant Funeral Home. A memorial fund has been established with the American Alzheimer’s Association in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Bryant Funeral Home

1425 Patton Road

Great Bend, KS 67530

620-793-3525

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Jan. 23, 2011