James E. Hamm, Jr.

James E. Hamm Jr was born on 12/5/1936 to Eula M. Hamm and James E. Hamm Sr. in Moscow, TN, a farming community outside of Memphis. He grew up on the family farm, raised primarily by his mother and aunt, though his uncles acted as mentors as time and proximity allowed. He was quiet and introspective, learning how to hunt and fish while studying in school.

When he graduated from high school, he enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed in Long Beach, California. During that time, he was introduced to Nancy Kathryn Tucker at an event sponsored by the USO. They began courting and were separated for one year, when he was stationed in South Korea, which was typical at the time. The two maintained a long-distance correspondence and when he came back to the states, they were married on December 21, 1957.

Two children came along, Kelli Kathryn and Tierni Helen before they decided to move to Memphis, TN to be closer to his side of the family and to help supplement with food from the family farm while he worked full time at night, studied at the university, and managed to sleep a few hours; all while trying to be the bread winner for his very young family. Following graduation with his BA, he began a career with Fruehauf Trailer Incorporated and after one year, he was transferred to Atlanta, Georgia to continue working with the company. There, his son James Granville was born, and he packed the family for a move from the deep south to Connecticut in early 1970.

Additional moves were made as he continued with Fruehauf, to Akron, Ohio, Philadelphia, PA, and then to Cincinnati, Ohio. His favorite place of all had been Connecticut where he and Mom had the best group of friends. Mom always said that all their lifelong friends came from Dad's time on the golf course. If he wasn't working, he was playing golf, watching it on TV or swinging a club and working on his drive. No weather was too cold for him, and he played The Chilli Bowl in Akron multiple times on a course carved out on a frozen lake.

When Fruehauf was embattled by a hostile takeover in the late 1980's, Dad lost his position in his 25th year with the company. He switched gears and obtained his CDL license so he could drive a bus for the Cincinnati school system. When his aunt passed away and his family's inheritance came to him, he and Mom were able to sell their home and move to Myrtle Beach where they lived for many years until they wanted to be closer to their children and grandchildren. They settled in Fairfield Glade for a time before moving back to Cincinnati.

Dad loved reading and any and every FBI or CSI show on CBS. He was competitive and hated losing no matter what game or what age his competition. Even though he wasn't vocal, he was with us during major life events from weddings to funerals. Mom laughed that when Kayla was born, if the doctor or nurse came out of the delivery door both sets of grandparents would have been taken out because they were leaning in, waiting for news of their new granddaughter.

Life came full circle. After Mom died, Dad struggled to find his way because he'd lost his touchstone in her. We, his children, tried to be there for him and help him navigate his way, but he was never the same. My memories, and those of my siblings are little snapshots from over the years. I recall him playing softball with a church group in Georgia, and dancing in a chorus line to The Monster Mash, for a fundraiser with the Kiwanis. If success is measured by a life well lived, he demonstrated that in spades. He had wonderful friends and experiences and made his way allowing us to push forward as well.

He passed away on the 12th of May at the same Hospice Center where our mother died in 2018, Dad, mom would say, loved us very much, don't ever doubt it. Yet he remains a mystery to us to this day. I know that he loved deeply but had a very difficult time expressing it to those he loved. He was like his mother in many ways, very stoic and reserved. Nevertheless, what he did not say in words, he expressed in actions, even if those actions were simply him being there, a presence in our lives. It will be hard knowing we can't pick up the phone and call him, but he is reunited with Mom and the others who've passed before him, and that brings us comfort.