Jessie Kathern Hammond

Jessie Kathern (Kist) Hammond was born July 7, 1918 in Etna to Dean Porter Kist and Anna Margaretta Augner Kist at home on the corner of Woodland and Cleveland Streets in Etna and passed away on October 31,2019 at the family ranch in Etna at the age 101 years, 3 months and 24 days. Jessie attended Etna Elementary School, Etna High School and graduated from Beauty College in Medford, Oregon. Jessie loved her childhood. She and her sisters spent summer days swimming in Etna Creek, playing tennis, hiking the hills and going for rides in the family car around the seven-mile block. Jessie was a great athlete. She was the Northern California tennis doubles champion with Alberta Alford Skillen in 1936. Jessie never set up shop as a beautician but she cut everyone’s hair in the family for years. In the summer of 1936 she went to help her sister, Anna Hammond, on the Hammond Ranch. There she met the love of her life, Carl Hammond, one of the Hammond Brothers that was falling timber at the time. Carl was smitten and started courting Jessie while she was finishing college. They were married on October 23, 1937 in Etna at the home of her parents on College Avenue. Carl continued falling timber, first in Pondosa, California, where Carl and Jessie were joined by Carl’s two year old daughter, Helen. In 1938 son Clyde joined the family and in 1941 daughter Carol. In 1943 Carl moved the family from Pondosa to the Tionesta, California logging camp. On June 1,1945 the family moved to the home ranch in Etna purchased from Matt Smith. On November 9, 1945, son Carl was born and the family was complete. By early 1946 Carl and Jessie purchased a group of Angus heifers and Scott Valley Angus Ranch was born. The town girl became the rancher’s wife, and Jessie worked together with Carl driving their matching Farmall Tractors, working cattle and attending cattle sales across the Western United States. For recreation Jessie played softball in the town league until she was 60 years old, and attended most sporting events to watch her children, grandchildren, great grandchild and most recently her great, great grandchildren play sports. In 2001, Jessie Hammond was selected as one of the first group of women honored as a Siskiyou County Pioneer Beef Woman and was a charter member of the Siskiyou County Cattlewomen. Jessie is survived by her four children Helen (Alvin Lewis), Clyde, Carol (Pete Munson), and Carl Jr. (Sue),16 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren and 19 great –great grandchildren. A memorial graveside service will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 11:30 AM at the Etna Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family request that donations be made to Scott Valley Scholarships & Education Awards, P.O. Box 352, Etna, CA 96027 for the Carl S. and Jessie K. Hammond scholarship.

Jessie Kathern Hammond

July 7, 1918 - October 31, 2019