From Ken Treybig, pastor, Texarkana and East Texas:

It is with sadness that I write to tell you of the death of Mr. Buck Hammer, 81, of Gladewater, TX, last Friday night around midnight. He had complained of stomach problems after a late lunch on Friday and thought he had come down with food poisoning. He went home from work early with Scott and Terrie (son and daughter-in-law) so they could help take care of him in what seemed to be food poisoning or the beginnings of the flu. By 9 pm he was feeling terrible and they called an ambulance to take him to the hospital. The paramedics and nurses didn't think it was anything serious until after they did an EKG in the Emergency Room and realized he had suffered a major heart attack--apparently sometime that afternoon--and his heart was severely damaged. Around 11:30 Scott and Terrie stepped out of the room for a minute and he coded. They were able to bring him back quickly, but about 30 minutes later he coded again and they were unable to revive him. The family said that after watching his wife suffer before dying in November of 1995 that one of his wishes was to go quickly, so God granted that wish.

He was a positive influence in the East Texas area for many decades as well as an active member of both the Church and the family business all they way to the end of his life and he will be deeply missed.

The funeral will be tomorrow, November 18, at 1 p.m. at the Croley Funeral Home in Gladewater, TX. Visitation is tonight, Monday, November 17, at the same location. After the internment there will be a potluck meal with the family in Big Sandy.

Mr. Hammer was very involved in the plans of the East Texas congregation for a local building. The family asks that any donations be sent to the East Texas Building Fund, P.O. Box 492, Hawkins, TX 75765. Cards can be sent in care of Scott and Terrie Hammer, 2322 W Lake Dr, Gladewater, TX 75647-3228.

11/17/2003

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