Myron Gary Hamm

Myron Gary Hamm, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, died suddenly at his home in Gunnison on Monday, February 10, 2025. Born in Newton, Kansas on October 19, 1942, he was the second son of Carl and Lillian Hamm of Newton, KS. Myron, a dog lover from a very young age, started working for a local veterinarian at the age of 11, riding his bike a few miles to the business every day. He continued working there until he began college in 1960.

Graduating from college in the early days of the Viet Nam war, Myron enlisted in the Naval Reserves in 1964 and began Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island. After graduation, the young ensign returned to Newton and married his college sweetheart Terri Lou Morris in Wichita, Kansas. They honeymooned on the way to his first duty station at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. After completing training there and in Corpus Christi, Texas, and Coronado, California, where his first son, Jeffrey Allen Hamm was born, Myron was stationed at Naval Air Station Oak Harbor, Washington. There he deployed twice to Viet Nam as a tactical coordinator on the P-2 Neptune. His last duty station was in Olathe, Kansas, where his second son, Gregory Morris Hamm was born. There he received an early release from active duty and moved to Wichita, Kansas.

Staying in the Naval Reserves, Myron began working on his Master of Business Management at Wichita State University, while raising hogs on his father’s farm outside Newton, KS. With his master’s degree completed, he was hired by Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Missouri. Never one to sit on his laurels, Myron bought a small apartment building, refurbished it, and rented the units. This led to the purchase of several additional small apartment buildings and much additional work. When his wife, Terri, decided to get a Master of Industrial Management, as if he didn’t have enough on his plate, Myron decided to use the rest of his GI Bill and attend classes with her, receiving his second master’s degree.

By now the apartment buildings were taking a lot of time and effort to maintain and, since his sons were becoming teenagers, maintenance became a family affair, with Jeffrey and Gregory working weekends and sometimes after school. Even several of the boys’ friends were enlisted to help on occasion.

Myron continued working in the Navy Reserves, attaining the rank of Captain, until 1994, when he retired.

In 1996 Myron decided to retire from Hallmark Cards and move to Gunnison, Colorado, a favorite vacation spot for many years, where he built a new home, doing all the woodwork himself, as well as building much of the furniture in it. He became an active member in the VFW, American Legion, and Gunnison Sportsmen’s Association, making many lasting friendships.