Ila Hamaker

Graveside services for Ila Hamaker will be held on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at 10:00 AM at the Crawford City Cemetery with Pastor Steve Mallery officiating. Visitation will be at Chamberlain Chapel in Crawford, Nebraska at 9:00 AM. A gathering will be held at the Crawford Eagles Club following the service.

Ila Forest Hamaker, 93 years old, passed away peacefully from this world on Saturday, August 27, 2016 at Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance, Nebraska with her family in attendance. Ila was born on April 10, 1923 in Crawford, Nebraska to Forest and Ava Elliot Hughes. She grew up in Crawford, Nebraska along with her six sisters and two brothers. They were her best friends and playmates. She married Bill Hamaker on April 1, 1942 in Harrison, Nebraska. They had 3 children Donna, Billy, and Jimmy. In 1950, the family moved to southern California, where Bill worked as a drywall finisher/painter. After 10 years, in California they moved to Thornton, CO for a short while. They then moved on to Crawford in 1963. Bill passed away in January 1993, and Ila continued to live contently in their home until August 2015. She then moved to Alliance to be near her daughter's family.

Ila loved singing with her sisters and brothers to her husband Bill's guitar. She also loved drawing, painting, writing poems, stories about her life, and memoirs. She loved school. Late in life she earned her diploma through GED, graduating at the top ten of her class. Best of all, she loved visiting with her grandchildren and the great grandchildren. She never forgot a birthday or an anniversary.

Ila is survived by her sister, Coral Hoar; Brother, Roger Hughes (Janice) of Crawford, Daughter, Donny Roby (Gary) of Alliance, NE; Sons, Bill Hamaker (Phyllis) of Kearney, NE; Son Jim Hamaker (Barbara) of Aurora, Colorado; six grandchildren Tony Roby (Carolyn Hoff) of Alliance, NE; Cristina Polter (H.R.) of Sidney, NE; Sandi Griepenstroh (Scott) of Central City, NE; Cody Hamaker (Tammy) of Kearney, NE; Jimmy Hamaker (Lisa) of Aurora, CO; Jill Scott (Tom) of Highlands Ranch, CO; great grandchildren: Gabrielle, Zachary, Aaron, Billy, Kendra, Jocelyn, Zane, Bell, Natalie, Devon, Jimmy, Matthew, Brandon, Kara, Jessica, and Briana; great-great grandchildren: Judah, Olivia, Owen.

Ila is preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill, sisters Irene Dietrick (Slim), Beaulah Cooley (Jim), Evelyn Coburn (Sheldon), Norma Joyce-infant, Richard-infant, Lucille Jensen (Laverne), Shirley Guggenmos (C.J.), brothers Milton Hughes (Nina), and great granddaughter Shelly Baird (Rick).

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