Jewel Hammond

Jewel Hammond, 79, of Shelbyville passed away Saturday, October 20, 2007 at Hospice of South Central Indiana Inpatient Facility in Columbus, following an extended illness. Born January 10, 1928, in Owensboro, KY she was the daughter of Emerson and May (Wedding) Embry. She married E. Frank "Tony" Hammond Jr. on August 28, 1949, and he preceded her in death on May 23, 1997. Survivors include her daughters, Deborah (husband, Robert) Tobian, Suzanne (husband, Victor) Noel and Mary Beth (husband, Gary) Runnabohm, all of Shelbyville; grandchildren, Kristen McMahon of Indianapolis, Megan Brinkman, Andrew Tobian, Justin Hammond Noel and Emily Noel, all of Shelbyville; and great-grandchildren, Gabriel Kendall, Isabella McMahon, Olivia Reimann, Taylor Brinkman and Luke Brinkman. She was also preceded in death by her parents and brother, James Embry. Mrs. Hammond moved to Shelbyville in 1951. She was a homemaker and later employed with Shelbyville Central Schools, working as a substitute teacher and with the speech and hearing department. In 1978 she helped create and organize the Shelby Senior Services, where she was the assistant director until 1988 when she became executive director, where she served until retiring in January of 2005. Mrs. Hammond was active as a troop leader in Girls Scouts of America, during her daughter's years in scouting. She graduated from Hammond High School and attended Indiana University, where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority. Mrs. Hammond was a member of the First Christian Church. She and her husband enjoyed traveling around the country and abroad. She was a lover of the arts, theatres and musicals, including the Indianpolis Symphony. She also enjoyed cooking, gardening, reading, family gatherings and helping others. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Freeman Family Funeral Homes, Carmony-Ewing Harrison Street Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of South Central Indiana, 2400 E. 17th St., Columbus, Indiana 47201; Hospice of Shelby County, 110 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville, IN 46176; or Shelby Senior Services, 120 W. Washington St., Shelbyville, IN 46176.