Jim Hammer

Jim Hammer, 83, formerly of Saratoga, passed away Tuesday morning August 4, 2020 in Reno, Nevada.

James Edward Hammer was born January 10, 1937 in Valley City, North Dakota, the son of Clarence "Jack" and Elsie Hammer. 

He married his high school sweetheart, Mary Lynn Merrett, on September 6, 1959 in Valley City before they followed Jim's career around the country in the US Fish & Wildlife Service for more than thirty years. They moved between North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Utah, Tennessee, Colorado, Arizona and, finally, Saratoga in 1975 where they built their home after he retired as the Manager at Saratoga National Fish Hatchery in 1991.

Jim was an avid outdoorsman and shared his love of hunting, fishing, cross-country skiing and camping with his family. He and Mary Lynn will always call Wyoming home and loved spending many years together with friends and family in Saratoga and Needles, California throughout their retirement.

He is survived by his wife of sixty years Mary Lynn, and his three sons Joe (Valerie) Hammer, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Matthew Hammer, Northampton, Pennsylvania; and Jed (Emily) Hammer, Reno, Nevada; along with two grandchildren. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Saratoga.

Jim was an extraordinarily kind and intelligent man and will be sorely missed by all those that were privileged to be a part of his life.