Billie Martin Hammack

On April 1, 2026, after a long and wonderful life, Billie Martin Hammack, returned home to his Heavenly Father and his eternal sweetheart, Pearl, at his home in Layton, Utah, at the age of 96.

Billie was born during the Great Depression on October 15, 1929, to James William (Bill) and Ora Elizabeth Nida Hammack in the small town of Walton, West Virginia. He was the 4th out of 8 children and grew up in humble conditions where they had to gather their drinking water from a nearby creek, and sleep in shared beds on straw-filled mattresses. He had fun running around barefoot with a slingshot in his back pocket, playing with sticks, and rolling tires down hills with his brothers. At age 9, they moved to Pliny, WV, where his father managed a farm. Billie kept busy helping with farm chores and going to school. He enjoyed reading cowboy & sports books, being in the Future Farmers of America, playing basketball, and being an all-state football player. He was class president and graduated valedictorian from Winfield High School before going to Virginia Polytechnic Institute on a football scholarship. After attending college for a few months, he decided to go back home and worked for a dairy farm until joining the Air Force and was eventually sent to Japan during the Korean War for over 2 years. After Japan, he was sent to Hill Air Force Base (HAFB) in Utah, and that is where he met the love of his life, Pearl Smith. Following his military discharge a few months later, he moved to Utah permanently and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He then married Pearl on July 1, 1955, in Syracuse, Utah, and a year later was sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple. They were happily married for 50 years until Pearl's passing in 2005.

Bill dedicated 31 years as a civilian at HAFB, working in aircraft maintenance before retiring as an ejection seat inspector at the age of 57. Never one to stay idle, he continued working in roles that let him serve others, such as driving individuals with disabilities – a job he often said was his favorite. He later returned to doing sheet metal work for Aerospace Engineering in Ogden until he was 76 and then found fulfillment volunteering at the Ogden LDS Temple for many years.

Billie loved to garden, sharing his bounty and canning what he could. He also enjoyed camping, hunting, cooking, candy making, and building things with his hands. He was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many callings, some including Counselor in the Bishopric, High Councilman, Sunday School Presidency, Stake Missionary, and Primary Teacher. Bill was a devoted family man who led by example, a wonderful neighbor, and a loyal friend. A mentor, teacher, hero, cheerleader, lived a life as Jesus lived and “went about doing good” by serving all of those around him. He always had a sunny disposition and never complained about having to work or do chores of any kind. If something needed to be done, he just did it; oftentimes whistling or singing to pass the time. He loved music until the day he died, filling the home with his soft voice singing - especially one of his favorite songs, “Country Roads”, even though he sometimes made up his own lyrics. To know him, truly was to love him.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife Pearl, his parents, and all of his siblings: Irene Rhinehart, George ‘Pete’, Delbert ‘Deb’, Paul, Jim, Joe, and Joan Durst. He is survived by his 3 children: Tina (Carl) Barber in Syracuse, Utah; Lorna (Rex) Gillespie in Layton, Utah; and Randy (Kelly) Hammack in West Haven, Utah. He is also survived by his 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, along with many other family members and friends who will miss him dearly.

Funeral services will be held Saturday April 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Rd. Layton, Utah. Friends may visit with family Friday April 10, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday prior to services from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary.

Interment will follow at the Fillmore, Utah, Cemetery around 3:30 pm.

Special thanks to Dr. Scott Moulton, Danita, Deanna, Kienna, Leigha, Claudia, Sky, Bailey, Melina, and Richelle from the CNS Hospice team for their wonderful care over the last several months. Also, thank you to Gordon and Carley for spending their nights watching over him the last couple of months. We’ve been blessed to know you all.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the Alzheimer’s Association in his name at Alz.org/Utah.

~Country Roads Take Me Home~