Marjorie Helen (Smith) Hammond, 99, passed away Monday, May 18th, 2020 at The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch - Senior Living Community of Sarasota, Florida.
She was born December 4th, 1920 in Malta, Ohio to Lee McKinley and Ota Elizabeth (Lynn) Smith. She is survived by one sister Frances Williams of Malta and three sons: Jim (Darla) of Winter Haven, Florida; Bob (Barbara) of Dublin, Ohio; and Scott (Debbie) of Rockwall, Texas, ten grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren. Marjorie is predeceased by her husband, John Samuel Hammond (2001), her parents, two brothers: Bob (WWII) and Don Smith, and a sister Ruth Ann Clapper.
Always a lifetime learner and someone who highly valued education, Marjorie attended Malta Elementary School and graduated from M&M High School in 1938, then received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Ohio University in 1942 and her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Ohio University in 1961. She taught many years in Morgan County schools 1946-1960 (Homer Union, M&M High School and McConnelsville Elementary). In 1960 she was elated to be hired first as an elementary teacher at Lowell and then as the first female principal of the three elementary schools in the Fort Frye School District located in Beverly, Ohio. At Fort Frye she led many projects to build and design curriculum as well as open two brand new buildings. She was also actively involved at the State and National levels in the development of new elementary reading techniques and other novel educational curriculum changes of the 1970’s.
After retiring as an educator in 1980, Marge, as she was known in Florida, relocated to the wonderful white sand on Siesta Key and Sarasota, Florida. She then began her second career and passion as a Real Estate Agent (Merrill-Lynch, Prudential and Coldwell Banker). Again, applying her lifelong learning skills, she succeeded in becoming one of the top selling agents on Siesta Key and around Sarasota. She delighted in sampling the delicious foods at many local restaurants, some of her favorites (especially the deserts) were Marina Jacks, the Chart House, Ophelia’s, Phillippi Creek and of course the Columbia on St Armond’s Circle.
Her third passion was learning through traveling around the globe on over 25 trips with family and friends. She particularly enjoyed taking her grandchildren on trips to England, Europe, Russia, the Mediterranean, Australia and Asia.
In 2015 at 94 years, Marjorie was very proud and delighted to write and publish her own autobiography “Marjorie Hammond: A Lifetime of Memories”. She spent countless hours typing the manuscript on her laptop computer and selecting just the right pictures to digitize and include in her book, which is available at the McConnelsville Kate Love Simpson Library and the Ohioana Library in Columbus, Ohio.
There will be a private burial service for the family at the McConnelsville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers Memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity United Methodist Church, 98 N. Tenth Street, McConnelsville, Ohio 43756 or Kate Love Simpson Library, 385 East Main Street, McConnelsville, Ohio 43756.
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