Michael Neal Hammond, 61, of Richmond, Missouri, died Saturday, September 29 ^th , 2018 at Shirkey Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Richmond, Missouri, due to lengthy illnesses.

Michael Neal Hammond was born July 21, 1957 in Lawrence, Kansas, to the late Gerald Neal Hammond and Ila Mae (Bryan) Hammond who were both originally from the West Plains, Missouri area.  At the age of 2 months; Michael moved with his parents to Richmond, Missouri and where his father was employed as a barber.  He lived in Richmond, Missouri most of his life, with the exception of attending college.  He attended kindergarten through 12 ^th grade in Richmond R-XVI Public Schools.  He was a graduate of the Richmond High School Class of 1975.  Suring 6 ^th through 12 ^th grades, Mr. Hammond played the tuba under the instruction of the late instrumental musical director Kenneth Seward.  Mr. Hammond was a member of the Richmond High School Pep Band and the Richmond High School Concert and Marching Bands.

In high school, Mr. Hammond passed the Federal Communication Commission's 3 ^rd Class Radiotelephone License Exam in Kansas City, Missouri.  The license permitted him to work as a chief operator of an AM or FM broadcast station, as a radio announcer, news broadcaster and radio disc jockey.  During his senior year of high school, he broadcast "The Mike Hammond Radio Show" on Saturday evenings for KLEX-KBEK FM Lexington, Missouri.  Later, he was a radio announcer and disc jockey for KBLR-KLTB radio station in Bolivar and KWTO 560AM/98.7 FM in Springfield, Missouri.  During the early 1980s; Mr. Hammond broadcast radio shows on KAOL 1430 AM and KMZU 100.7 FM "The Farm" in Carrollton, Missouri and on KEXS 1090 AM in Excelsior Springs, Missouri.  He was employed at Steva Stone Company, as a scales operator in Richmond, Missouri.

After high school graduation, Mr. Hammond attended Southwest Baptist University for 1-1/2 years in Bolivar, Missouri.  As a college student in January 1976 he participated in a 10 day tour of the Holy Land of Israel and a 5 day tour of Rome, Italy.

He professed throughout his life to be an Evangelical Christian.  At 11 years old and on "Good Friday," April 12, 1968 he was baptized by immersion in the First Christian Church in Richmond, Missouri.  One of Michael's favorite Bible scriptures is found in Acts 10:34--"God is no respecter of persons."

In February 1978 he graduated as a licensed barber from the Missouri School of Barbering and Hairstyling in Kansas City, Missouri.  He was employed for several years as a part-time barber in his parents' barber shop, located on the corner of 131 East Main Street, located on the Richmond town square.

On February 13, 1981 Mr. Hammond graduated from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Services in Dallas, Texas, having earned an Associate in Applied Science degree.  He passed the National Board Exam (NBE) on his first attempt and was awarded the National Board Certificate from the United Science and Funeral Service Arts.  The National Board Certificate granted Mr. Hammond a lifetime National Embalmers License.  He completed the Funeral Director's program curriculum coursework in Dallas, Texas.  Mr. Hammond earned a lifetime Funeral Director's License from the Missouri State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.  At the time of his death, Mr. Hammond was a Missouri licensed funeral director, embalmer, barber, and amateur radio technician.  All licenses were currently active.  However, due to his disabling health and lengthy illnesses, his career goals were abridged.

He was registered Ray County Voter and enjoyed voting in all elections, including voting absentee.  In his younger years, he enjoyed fishing for bass and catfish.  His favorite movies were Earth vs. The Flying Saucers (1956), When Worlds Collide (1951), and The Wizard of Oz (1939).  He enjoyed eating good food and drinking ice cold soda pop.

He is survived by one sister, Cathy Esther (Hammond) Bohanan of Richmond, Missouri.  One uncle and five aunts, Bob E. (Nancy) Bryan and Sue Bryan of West Plains, Missouri, Martha Carter of Springfield, Missouri, Maxine Casey of Braddock Heights, Maryland and Deana (Hammond) Davis of Bend, Oregon, and many cousins who reside throughout the USA.

He was preceded in death by his parents in Richmond, Missouri; Gerald Neal Hammond (d. October 31, 1977) and Ila Mae (Bryan) Hammond (d. January 12, 2014); his paternal grandfather, Charles Homer Hammond (d. November 14, 1974) and paternal grandmother, Ruby Lou (Jackson) Hammond (d. March 10, 1956) both of Moody, Missouri; his maternal grandfather, Clifford Edward Bryan, Sr. (d. April 4, 1974) and his maternal grandmother, Sybil Esther (Goyer) Bryan, (d. July 8, 1986) both of Pomona, Missouri.

Memorial contributions may be made to Shirkey Hospice in Richmond, Ray County Salvation Army, Disabled American Veterans, or to the Donor's Choice.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at Thurman Funeral Home in Richmond.  Visitation will be one hour prior to services on Wednesday, at the funeral home.  Burial will be in Richmond Memory Gardens.  Please share your memories with the family by visiting www.thurmanfuneralhome.com .