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Cole Hammond

On the morning of Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014, our beloved son, husband, father and friend, Cole Derick Hammond, 31, left this earth too soon.

Visitation will be Friday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Services will be held Saturday, Nov. 15, at 2 p.m. at the Dahl Funeral Chapel in Billings with a luncheon to follow. His ashes will be laid to rest in a private family ceremony at a later date in Saco.

Born Jan. 26, 1983, he was raised in the small town of Saco, Mont., by his parents, Fred and Gayle Hammond. He was an only child and very much loved by his parents. They had longed for a child for many years, and Cole brought so much joy, love and happiness into their lives. It was evident early on that Cole was special; he was very bright and had the grandest imagination. As a child he loved to entertain at family events by doing magic shows and playing the guitar. He was talented in so many ways, excelling academically and as a musician, especially the bass guitar. To many, he was a quiet, introspective man, and while he projected a reserved image to the world, he was actually very witty and fun-loving.

He graduated from Saco High School in 2001 and moved to Billings that fall to attend Rocky Mountain College. In the fall of 2002, he met the love of his life at Rocky, Heather Shea. He and Heather were kindred spirits and had so much love for each other. In March of 2005, their only child, Sheamus, was born and Cole and Heather were married in August of 2005.

He was the best father and loved his son with all his heart. They would have “ass kicking” days together and he would fill his little mind with the strangest, funniest stories. There was never a question he could not answer for his son, right, wrong or just plain BS. He liked to say he was creating memories.

He loved cats since he was seven years old, when he got his first cat, Stubby. He passed his love for cats on to his son, and the two loved to celebrate “Grey Kitty Day” every spring, in honor of his two grey “fur daughters,” Chairman Lilly Mau and Pearlie Mae.

He was an avid hunter and looked forward to taking trips to the hi-line each fall to hunt with his dad and son. He was a talented musician; he loved to jam with his friends and play guitar and sing with his son.

He loved the Broncos and was always wearing something with the Broncos logo on it, even in the Seattle airport after the Super Bowl. He was so many things to so many people and always had something to offer when asked.

As a counselor, he touched many clients’ lives and was well regarded in his field. He was working towards his master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling and had dreams to get his PhD. Education was always important to him. He was always an avid reader and looked for continual ways to expand his mind. He truly seemed to know a little something about everything. He had been working for the State of Montana helping people with disabilities all the while struggling with a disability of his own. For the past four years he struggled with an undiagnosed medical condition that caused him great pain daily. He never wanted to burden others with his pain and suffered in silence. He was there for anyone who needed him, his family, friends and clients, all while struggling himself. He was the most selfless, giving person. His four-year battle is over, rest in peace. Know that your friends and family will love and miss you always.

He was preceded in death by his very special great-aunt and uncle, Pearl and Wilbur Bryson, (who were more like another set of grandparents to him) grandparents, Ken and Dawn White, grandmother Adeline Hammond, and great-aunt Annabell Prestbo.

Survivors include his wife, Heather; one young son, Sheamus, of Billings; his parents, Fred and Gayle Hammond of Saco; two aunts, Pat Wehrly of Havre, Wanda Turner of Helena; two uncles, Frank White and his wife, Barb, of Saco and Ralph White and his wife, Carol, of Kansas; and many cousins, including special cousins Echo Nelson and Eric White.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at http://www.dahlfuneralchapel.com.

Dahl Funeral Chapel of Billings is in charge of arrangements.

 

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