Fred A. Hamilton Jr. (1947 - 2024)

Born 5 Feb 1947 in Deer Lodge, Montana, United States

Died 3 Apr 2024 at age 77 in Hutto, Williamson, Texas, United States

Biography

OBITUARY: Fred A Hamilton, Jr. (Skip), 77, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, son, and friend passed away peacefully on April 3, 2024, in Hutto, Texas.

Skip was born to Fred A Hamilton, Sr., and Dorothy Willian Wahl on February 5, 1947, in Deer Lodge, Montana. He spent his youth in Tooele, Utah. He married the love of his life, Peggy Jones, in the Logan LDS Temple on September 14, 1972, in Logan, Utah. At the time of his passing, they had been married for more than 51 joyful years. Skip attended Utah State University in Logan, Utah. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and a Master’s degree in English. He then went on to get a second Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. He accepted his first job as a librarian at the University of Mississippi Library, in Oxford, Mississippi, where he worked from 1976 to 1979. Following his work at the University of Mississippi, Skip applied at, and was hired by, the University of Colorado, in Boulder, Colorado. He worked as a librarian and English literature collection bibliographer for the University of Colorado from 1980 until his retirement in 2017. He thoroughly enjoyed his job, which included helping people do research, teaching classes on research in the theatre department, updating the English literature section of the library, and collaborating with his fellow employees to build one of the best reference collections in Colorado. After nearly 38 years of dedication, he retired from his position at the age of 70.

Skip and Peggy lived in Broomfield, Colorado for 42 years. Their son, Brett Hamilton, was born in 1981. Skip’s greatest joy was always spending time with wis wife and son. Together, they attended various activities, Brett’s piano and orchestra performances, and any other musical concerts available. He loved spending time in the mountains and traveled throughout the Colorado Rockies where he fell in love with photography. As most will remember, he was rarely seen without a camera around his neck. He loved seeing others happy and wanted to capture those moments.

Skip was an avid book lover and spent hours reading for personal enjoyment, reading to Brett as a child, and reading to his grandchildren. One of his favorite traditions was to visit The Tattered Cover, a large bookstore in Cherry Creek, Colorado, during the Christmas Holidays. He and Brett would spend hours looking at and reading the new holiday books for the season. Each year, they would pick out a new one to read as a family on Christmas eve. When he moved to Georgetown, TX, he had over 40 boxes of books that he had collected during his life, which were donated to a local library. Skip was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a mission for the Church in the Great Canadian Mission from 1966 to 1968. As a lifelong church member, Skip served in many callings. He served as a counselor in the Branch Presidency in Oxford, Mississippi. In Broomfield, Colorado, he served as a ward and stake music coordinator, ward and stake chorister, primary teacher, cub scout master, sunday school president and teacher, high priest group leader, genealogy instructor, and as an ordinance worker in the Fort Collins Temple.

Skip loved music from the time he was young until he passed away. He played the drums, accordion, and was a band member in high school and in college. At Utah State University, he was in the “Sounds of Zion,” an institute based choral group that toured the United States. As an adult, he was a member of the Colorado Mormon Chorale for 36 years. He listened to all kinds of music and found countless hours of fun putting together various stereo systems to get the best sound possible. He also loved to collect miniature “Christmas Village” houses and miniature train set pieces, which he would set up for display during Christmas time.

Skip and Peggy loved to travel and had seen most of the United States during his life. Skip would sing his favorite songs wherever he went. During their travels, they made many friends, and they became honorary uncles and aunts to their friend’s children.

Skip will be missed. He was a truly kind person, who loved to tell jokes, especially puns, because he loved to see people smile. One of his goals in life was to always help others, so much so, that he was known for constantly asking people “Are you OK?”. This question always came from a place of love, as he genuinely wanted to know if there was anything he could do to help those around him in any and all situations.

Skip is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Dorothy, and his brother Paul (Ann). He is survived by his wife, Peggy, his son, Brett (Emily), his grandchildren Abby, Kate, Mason, and Elyse, his brothers, Ricke (Jean) and Robin (Jane), his adopted siblings, Paula, Burley (Kathleen), Merri, and Sean (Deena), and his many loved nieces and nephews.

His family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the wonderful people at the Comforts of Home Healthcare and Hospice and to the wonderful caretakers and friends he had at the Galaxia Miller Group Home.

The Funeral will be Friday, April 26, 1:00 p.m., at Mt. Naomi Farms, 4460 N. 400 E., Hyde Park, Utah. He will be laid to rest at Smithfield, Utah Cemetery.

A Memorial will be held Monday, April 29, 2024, 11:00 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1250 Main St., Broomfield, Colorado.

Sources

Gabriels Funeral Chapel, Texas, United States [1] accessed 24 April 2024