Annabell Elizabeth Hammer was born February 1, 1931 in the home of her mid-wife grandmother on Sterling Road in Sedro-Woolley, Washington.  Her parents, Tom L. Swan and Edith Marie (Hayes) Swan, lived in the small community of Prairie just north of Sedro-Woolley.  She attended the two room Samish elementary school and graduated from Sedro-Woolley High School in 1949.

Annabell married Stanley Samson and moved to the community of Big Lake where Stanley was the school bus driver, custodian as well as the fire truck driver for the volunteer fire department.  She enjoyed the community's social life and after several years began working for the West Coast telephone company located in Mount Vernon.

Motherhood began with Teresa Diane in June 1953, and Stanley was ecstatic at the news that Elaine Marie would arrive in April 1955. And exciting as this was, a new freeway was in the works and a home that was in the pathway went to auction and the little family purchased and moved the house to Big Lake on the northeast corner of the Samson family farm. It was so exciting to see the house coming up the road!

Their happiness was soon crushed by the sudden death of 28-year-old Stanley. Type I diabetes claimed his life in July 1955.  Annabell was left alone to care for 2-year-old Teresa and 3-month-old Elaine in a time when few safety nets were available.

She later met Millard "Lee" Hammer, and they married as he gladly assumed responsibility for a "ready-made" family.  It wasn't long until economics forced the young family to pack up and move to the town of Crescent City, California. Lee worked in the mill and Ann later began working in the telephone company which coincidentally was part of the same West Coast telephone company in which she had previously been employed. They lived in the coastal town at the edge of the magnificent Red Woods for 5 years before returning home to Washington state.

After several moves between Anacortes, Stanwood, and finally Burlington they put down deep roots on Pulver road right next door to a former Prairie neighborhood schoolmate! Such a small world! They lived there for the rest of their lives.

It was at this home that Larry Lee joined the family much to the delight of Teresa and Elaine. The home also opened its doors to many foster children through the years and later to several former residents of Northern State Hospital after it closed.

She had obtained her Licensed Practical Nursing degree and worked at Northern State Hospital until its closure. She then worked at Burton's Nursing Home. Her servant heart wasn't content to sit so she volunteered in her community for Gleaners and Helping Hands Food Bank.  She loved her nursing career and would often ask her Hospice caregivers if they had any work for her (at 94 years of age) to do.

Ann passed away late Sunday evening, August 24, 2025 at Big Lake, Washington.  She loved her Lord and served Him all her life through.

She was preceded in death by husband, Stanley Samson in July 1955, husband Lee Hammer in 2012; parents, Edith and Tom Swan in 1980; sister, Laura Marie Swan; brother, James (Jim) F Swan; nephew, James L Swan; and sister-in-law, Dorothy Morris Swan.

She is survived by daughters, Teresa (Randy) Litke, Elaine (Ivan) Wingo, son, Larry (Nancy) Hammer; grandchildren, Jason Litke, Andrew Litke, Carrie (Jeremy) Hoyle, Tyler (Gizen) Wingo, Zach Wingo, Lindsay (Daniel) Meng, Ethan Hammer, Tiana Hammer;  great-grandchildren, Bradley Litke, Sienna Paggao, Ethan Paggao, Eli Neupauer, Leanna Litke, Emma Lohman (Andrew), Russell Litke, Ryan (Sydney) Litke, Leah Litke, Jordan Hoyle, Connor Hoyle, Travis Meng, Noah Meng, Emilee Hammer, Adrianna Nelson, Vincent Best, and Valerie Hammer.

A Graveside service will be held at 1:00, Saturday, October 18, 2025 at Union Cemetery, Sedro-Woolley.  Arrangements are under the care of Lemley Chapel, Sedro Woolley.