The cars we drive say a lot about us.
Alexandra Paul

If the above quotation is correct, then we know a lot about Ross Harold Hammond. Ross was hard working and meticulous – he was always washing and waxing his cars. In fact, it has been said that Ross washed his car every day and waxed it every week. He was also a loyal man – always buying his cars at Bud Riers, and only at Bud Riers. Ross was an honest man – always trading his in his cars after a couple years with low mileage. Some even say that Ross’ traded cars would be rebought before the hood had even cooled. In addition, there was a long list of potential buyers for his cars. Ross was not judgemental – it didn’t really matter what colour of car he had, although he did tend to have a number of white cars but also liked maroon cars. It could be said that Ross had an open mind – he started off buying GMs and then switched to Buicks. And Ross had a sense of humour – he once quipped that maybe he should dirty the car ashtray in defence of trading in yet another car.

Ross was born April 1, 1931 to Harold and Alma (Subject) Hammond. His sister Florence was five years older than Ross. Together the Hammond family lived above and behind Harold’s barber shop on Main Street in Chesley. Sorrowfully, Florence passed away in 1965 at the age of thirty-nine, leaving behind her husband Wally Smith.

Norma was born and raised in Port Elgin to Edmond and Jenny (McDonald) Smith. The Smith’s moved to Chesley when Bunny was in public school. And the rest is history. Bunny met Ross who was 2 years her senior and on April 25, 1953 they were married at Geneva Presbyterian Church. Bob was born in 1955, Nancy in 1957 and Norma in 1961. For the first couple of years Norma and Ross lived in a different home. However, all the children were born and raised at their present home on 6th Avenue.

Once leaving school Ross went to work at Krugs. Each one of his children worked there as well. It was Ross’ way of instilling the importance of schooling in the kids. The one important lesson Ross taught his family was the value of hard work. He was also strict with them. And honest. Ross called a spade a spade. One never had to guess as to where they stood with him. One knew exactly where they stood.

Indeed, Ross was hard working. He worked full time at Krug’s Factory for some forty-three years, primarily on the band saw. The only reason he stopped working at Krug’s was that he was laid off. Ross never really liked the factory life but he did it for his family. It was important to Ross that he did a good job of caring for Bunny and the kids. In addition to working at the factory, Ross also worked part time at the hotel in town. He bartended some nights, and definitely every weekend, for twenty-eight to thirty years. And on top of that, Ross also worked at the arena.

Working from dawn to dusk left very little time for Ross to experience anything else. What he did like to do was read the newspaper. From front to back, Ross read every word – even the want ads! His paper of choice was the Owen Sound Sun Times, of course. And he did have a favourite chair. And he always sat in it, no place else. It was a swivel chair so that he turn and face into the kitchen, keeping an eye on Norma (Bunny). It was “his spot.” In addition, Ross also had a favourite beer cup.

It isn’t the exact truth to say that Ross did not have any pastimes. Labatt’s Blue and Carling were his drink of choice. As mentioned, he loved hockey but was not a Toronto Maple Leaf fan, even though he had their emblem on his car license. Ross enjoyed watching the Detroit Red Wings and the Washington Capitals. Old time country and western music was a favourite, and even for a while, Dwight Yokum. Cleaning windows, shovelling snow, and shooting water off the deck were also favourite duties. Watching Red Skelton in days of yore and watching Judge Judy, Steve Harvie, game and talk shows recently were things Ross enjoyed, especially once he started slowing down. Both he and Bunny had scooters with which to scoot about town on. However, once Bunny was hit by a car their scooting activities were curtailed.

Ross was not a complainer and never spoke of his pain or discomfort, even though family and medical staff could see it in his eyes. Having gone Saturday Shopping this past week, it was a horrid surprise to see Ross decline so quickly on Wednesday. Ross passed away surrounded by his loving family at South Bruce Grey Health Centre, Chesley on Saturday, March 19, 2016 in his 85th year.

Cherished husband of Norma “Bunny” (Smith). Loving father of Bob (Janet), Nancy (Bev) Nickel and Norma Dayman (Shawn Merritt), all of Chesley. Ross will continue to live on in the hearts and minds of his three grandchildren, Tanya (Marcel) Arbour, Paul (Dawn) Dayman, Stacey (Scott) Hammell and his five great-grandchildren Taylin, Jase, Dylan, Kassy and Chelsea. Ross was predeceased by his grandson Justin Hammond, sister Florence (Wally) Smith and his parents, Harold and Alma (Subject) Hammond.

Visitation will be held at Rhody Family Funeral Home, Chesley on Wednesday from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 p.m. where a funeral service celebrating Ross’ life was held on Thursday, March 24, 2016 at 11 a.m. Interment in Chesley Cemetery. Memorial donations to the Chesley Hospital Foundation, Chesley Minor Baseball or Arran-Elderslie Minor Hockey Association are appreciated as expressions of sympathy.