Dennis (Gyp) Hammond

Gyp was born September 2, 1946 in El Dorado, the son of Hammett (Pitt) Hoyt Hammond and Newell Augusta Wood Hammond. He served our country as a member of the U.S. Air Force and completed a tour of duty in Vietnam. After an honorable discharge from service in 1972, he went to work with his dad at the local Lion Oil Distributorship, E. C. Hammond Oil. He worked there until chronic back problems rendered him unable to perform his job tasks. He enjoyed his contact with his family members at work and also enjoyed his personal contact he had with the public. He was a lifetime member of West Side Baptist Church where his selfless spirit was nurtured and flourished. This spirit of selflessness was never shown more vividly than when he became the primary caregiver for his mother battling cancer. Gyp was truly a mechanical genius who spent most of his time assisting family and friends on whatever projects were demanding their attention. He loved working on vintage cars, fabricating and anything that was a mechanical challenge. Anything that caught his attention received nothing less than the very best his talents and skills had to offer. He was a loving brother who cherished his family and friends. He will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his brothers; Rick Hammond (Dianne), Jamie Hammond, and Gary Hammond all of El Dorado, and first cousins by birth brothers by choice, Barry Switzer (Becky) of Norman, Oklahoma, and Don Switzer (Linda) of Rogers, Arkansas.

Mausoleum services will be held at 2PM Tuesday May 25, 2010, at Arlington Memorial Park in El Dorado, with Rev. Sam Whitlow officiating, under the direction of Perry's Funeral Chapels.

Memorials can be made to the John R. Williamson Hospice House or Westside Baptist Church. The family will be at 1220 Forest Lane, El Dorado.