Charles B. Hammond

Boonville - Charles B. Hammond, 88, husband of the late Annette DeVoe Hammond, passed away at his residence, on Sunday, November 5, 2023, while under the loving care of his family and hospice.

Charles was born in Boonville on June 22, 1935, a son of Dr. Maurice and Louise Barlett Hammond. He grew up on Schuyler St. in Boonville, where he received his education, until relocating to North Syracuse with his family, where his father was the Superintendent of North Syracuse Central School District. After his graduation, Charles returned to Boonville and was joined in marriage with Annette DeVoe, on January 19, 1957, at the home of the groom, on Schuyler St. in Boonville. Annette passed away on October 12, 2023.

After their marriage the couple owned and operated the Maple Lane Dairy Farm, near Boonville. The Hammond’s would employ young men and educate them on a strong work ethic and other life skills, many of whom would return later in life and thank them for the life lessons learned on the farm. With the help of his parents, Charles made maple syrup from his farm’s sugar bush. When a fire destroyed their farm in 1978, Charles and Annette founded and then operated the Maple Lane Mobile Home Park for over 35 years. In their retirement, Charles and Annette enjoyed wintering in Florida and visiting his Uncle Gib while there.

Charles possessed a lifelong interest in horses, especially in training and racing horses; for many years he raced horses at Vernon Downs, pari-mutuel race tracks and across New York State on the county fair horse racing circuit. Charles, Annette and their family will be fondly remembered for their racehorse, “Jack Wax,” and for the operation of Ham De Stables, where they trained standard bred race horses. Charlie was the owner, driver, and blacksmith, training his horses on a half mile racetrack he built on the family farm. Mr. Hammond was a member of the N.Y. State Sire Stakes Racing Association and also the U.S. Trotting Association and Central NY Horse Association.

Charles enjoyed sports in his youth. Charlie was an excellent water skier and built ski jumping ramps at the family camp on Little Long Lake. In high school, he played basketball, then town team after that. With his scrappy and aggressive personality, he was proud to say he “sharpened his elbows” to anyone that dared to enter the lane. Later on in life, he enjoyed watching the local kids play high school basketball and wrestle.

Mr. Hammond will be fondly remembered for his generosity. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Boonville. Charles and Annette would grow, harvest, prepare and donate hundreds of pounds of Hubbard squash for election night dinners at the church. On Christmas mornings, the Hammond’s would volunteer to serve meals at the Utica Rescue Mission. Charlie would also create and proudly gave away handmade bookmarks or painted stone ladybugs to put a smile on someone’s face or to reward any good deed done. Charlie took great pride in his garlic garden. Each fall, he would plant in excess of 250 cloves, hand selecting the largest cloves to plant, then graciously giving much of it away, along with bags of his homemade sauerkraut. One of his simplest joys was returning from wintering in Florida and inspecting his spring crop of garlic poking through the snow while enjoying a cold beer.

Charles was a talented metal and wood worker. He took several classes at Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute in Utica, including pottery, silversmithing, and jewelry making. Charlie entered many of his pieces in art shows at The View in Old Forge, winning awards on several occasions. Every year, his family and friends could expect a new, uniquely created and carved Santa Claus tree ornament.

He is survived by three daughters and sons in law; Cynthia (Jim) Forest, Renee (Randy) Lee and Deborah (Gary) Kline; grandchildren, Jennifer (Tom) Kennett, Rebecca (John) Pinder, Heather (Jeremiah) Haslun, Shannon Lee, Shawna Lee, and Riley Kline and eight great grandchildren; one sister, Priscilla Foreman and one sister in law, Jane Sanford. He was predeceased by a brother, Dr. Robert Hammond, on April 2, 2023 and several brothers and sisters in law.

Charlie loved his music and taught himself to play the banjo in his 70’s. He loved to line dance, oberek, and polka. Beyond a doubt, he is once again enjoying a spin around the dance floor with his beloved wife, Annette.

A graveside service was held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at Boonville Cemetery. There were no calling hours. Memorial contributions may be made to Boonville Fire Department Ambulance Fund, PO Box 164, Boonville, NY 13309. His funeral arrangements were in care of Trainor Funeral Home, Inc. 143 Schuyler St. Boonville.