John Paul Hammett

John Paul Hammett, 87, of Midland, died on Sunday, January 3, 2010, at his home. John was born February 24, 1922 to Theodore H. Hammett and Clara Sophia Konz in Independence, Kansas. He married Joyce Sidney Self on March 11, 1945, in Dallas, Texas.John served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, 1943-1946. Working first as a meteorologist, he then did research on weather instruments for the Army Signal Corps. After the war, John returned to Tulsa to complete his final year at the University of Tulsa, earning a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering in 1947.John worked as a petroleum engineer for Burlingame Corporation in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, 1947-1949; for Sinclair Oil & Gas Company, 1949-1969; and for Atlantic Richfield Company, 1969-1985, when he retired from ARCO. He was active for many years in the Society of Petroleum Engineers, serving as chairman of the East Texas Section and head of various committees both there and in the Permian Basin. John was designated a Legion of Honor member for 50 years continuous membership in the Society. He was also a registered engineer with the State of Texas. John worked in numerous locations in Oklahoma, New Mexico, and East and West Texas.On moving back to Midland in 1965, John became active in the Camp Fire Girls, serving on the board as camping chairman. John was an active volunteer in the early years of the Petroleum Museum, 1975-1985. He served as President of the Santa Rita Club and wrote a monthly column for their newsletter explaining various aspects of the petroleum industry.Retiring from ARCO in July 1985, John & Joyce purchased a motorhome. For the next 22 years, they traveled 200,000 miles throughout the lower 48 states. In 1995, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary by cruising on the Delta Queen Steamboat on the Mississippi River. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2005 on the Delta Queen, their 5th cruise.John was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Ellis T. Hammett of Reno, Nevada, and his sister, Jane H. Kaboth of Denver, Colorado.Survivors include his wife, Joyce S. Hammett, of Midland; son, David Paul Hammett and wife, Mary Joyce, of Cookeville, Tennessee; daughter, Nancy E. Hammett Burnett of Amarillo, Texas; daughter, Sara F. Hammett Dillard and husband, John, of Fort Worth, Texas; grandson, Robert John Burnett and wife Brennan, of Sherman Oaks, California; grandson, John Victor Hammett, currently serving with the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq; granddaughter, Jessica Elaine Burnett, of Dallas; granddaughter, Brandy Chastain and family of Thomaston, Georgia; grandson, Bryan Shaver of Cookeville, Tennessee, and several nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law.As John planned, his body was donated for research to Texas Tech University School of Medicine. At his request, no formal service will be held.The family suggests memorials either to Hospice of Midland, PO Box 2621, Midland, TX 79702 (or online at www.hospiceofmidland.org/) or to Gifts of Hope, Inc., attn. Mary Collier, PO Box 1323, Midland, TX 79702 (or online at www.hopehousetexas.org). Gifts of Hope is the volunteer support group for Allison Cancer Center in Midland, Texas.,