Ralph "RK" Kay Hammond

Ralph Kay “RK” Hammond died in Loveland Oct. 3, 2021. He was 89 years old.

Kay was born on Feb. 23, 1932, in Fort Collins, to Muriel and Kenneth Hammond. He had a brother, Jack, who was three years younger.

The family moved to Salt Creek, Wyoming in 1938 where his father worked in the oilfield, and then moved to Lance Creek, Wyoming later the same year.

In high school he was a good athlete as well as a good student, and really loved sports – he played basketball, football and baseball, but loved baseball the most.

When Kay was 18 the family moved to Houston, Texas, and he attended the University of Houston, graduating with a degree in Petroleum Engineering. He was hired by Conoco, and while working in Denver he met Donna Paulley, who was working as a secretary in the same building. They were married six months later, on Sept. 14, 1958.

Their son Jay was born in 1959, and daughter Laurie in 1962. The oil business sent them from Fort Morgan to Craig to Ventura, California, Hobbs New Mexico, Oklahoma City and to Houston. Finally, when both children were in college, they moved to Stavanger, Norway, where they spent four years. They visited many exciting places in their time overseas.

Donna and Kay returned to Loveland in 1986 and made their home there.

They enjoyed travelling, and spent many summers in Norway. They truly loved getting away from the Colorado winter, and went to Mexico at least once a year for many years.

Kay was an avid fly fisherman as well as a skilled hunter. He especially enjoyed bird hunting, as much for the company as for the actual hunting. He was always the camp chef - and everyone loved his cooking. He was also a talented carpenter and was always working on something down in his shop.

He is survived by his brother Jack, and his children Jay Hammond (Leslie) and Laurie Lillefjaere (Inge), his four grandchildren Kristoffer Lillefjaere (Siri), Sara Lillefjaere (Andreas), Adrienne Hammond (Allen), Marcus Lillefjaere, and his three great-grandchildren Adam, Thomas and Louise. He is preceded in death by his wife, Donna, grandson, Andrew, and his parents, Muriel and Kenneth Hammond.

He agreed with Will Rogers, who said “If there are no dogs in heaven, then I want to go where they went.”

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ralph Kay Hammond Memorial Fund, in care of Lusk State Bank, 415 S Main, Lusk, WY 82225

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