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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | JANUARY 2023 | 65 Jim McDonald Family and friends mourn the loss on November 8 of Jim McDonald, one of Sun Lakes' more colorful individuals. Jim was born in Olean, NY on May 7, 1938. He leaves behind his wife of 60 years, Joann, sons James Evan and Jeffrey Thomas, daughter Jacqueline Marie Russell, twin brothers Richard and Robert, and sister Patricia, eight grandchildren, one great- grandchild, and four nieces. Jim was an Air Force veteran of 10 years, having worked both refueling jets and as a cook. He later worked as a sales manager of men's clothing, and also at an IT company. After retiring, he worked as a school bus driver for Laidlaw for six years. After living in San Bernardino for 13 years, Jim and Joann moved to Sun Lakes 22 years ago. In Sun Lakes, he was an active bocce player and member of Cruzin' Cronies, and Men's Executive Golf. He enjoyed dancing, riding his motorcycle, and gardening. He also loved clocks, and his home contains about two dozen of them, along with an extensive collection of eagle artifacts and paintings. He was also a chaplain with VFW local Post 233. Jim was a regular patron of Donut Delight, holding court every morning around 8:30, along with six friends who met to discuss and solve the world's problems. A Celebration of Life will be held on Jan. 14, from 1 to 3 pm, in the South Clubhouse. LaVerne Dale Hammer, 91, a Sun Lakes resident and formerly of Long Beach, CA, Buena Park, CA, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, passed away on December 6, 2022, at home with family at his bedside. He was born on May 17, 1931, on a farm near Willow Lake, SD to Melvin and Lillian (Fiferlick) Larson. He attended school in Sioux Falls. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force when he was 16 and was honorably discharged after six years. LaVerne married Barbara Jean Fitzgerald from Long Beach in 1952. He went to work for Atlantic Richfield Oil Company in accounting. He later joined the City of Long Beach as Assistant Comptroller where he worked for 10 years. After leaving this position, he joined Union Pacific Resources Group as Regional Finance Manager and later joined BKK Corporation Landfill as Finance Manager until he retired in 1998. LaVerne and Barbara moved to their home in Sun Lakes in 1999 enjoying many years with family and friends playing golf, dancing, bowling, and other activities. LaVerne and Barbara have also been members of Grace Lutheran Church in Banning. LaVerne is survived by his wife Barbara Jean and son LaVerne Dale (Debbie) Hammer, Jr. Their daughter Janet Susan Smith-Scott passed away from breast cancer in 2020. LaVerne and Barbara have four grandchildren, Jennifer Hammer, Stefanie (Akil) Sanders, Julie Burke, Allison (Tyler) Smith, and eight great-grandchildren. LaVerne is also survived by his sister Sharon Noser of Sioux Falls. He was preceded in death by his parents, his stepfather, George Hammer, and his sister Karen Hammer of Sioux Falls.

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