A. Keith Hammett, 78, of 2209 Camps Creek Church Road, Mooresboro, N.C., peacefully left this earth to be with his Lord and Savior at his home on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2008, after an extended battle with leukemia.

A native of Cherokee County, he was the son of the late Charles Nesbitt and Addie Childers Hammett.

Keith served a tour of duty in the U.S. Air Force during

the Korean War. He worked and retired

from Timken Corporation

in Gaffney, During his 13 year retirement, he enjoyed gardening, volunteering as a lunch buddy, and serving his community and church faithfully.

Mr. Hammett was a member of Camps Creek Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School for more than 40 years, served as a deacon, and was a member of the adult and senior adult choirs.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his two brothers, Charles Nesbitt II and George Marshall Hammett, as well as his father and mother-in-law, Raymond and Eula Mae Hamrick.

Keith was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who held family and faith as his top priorities.

He is survived by his wife, Jackie Hamrick Hammett; two daughters, Jenny Hammett Scism and husband, Steve, and Joan Hammett Hubbard; his two granddaughters, Ava Scism Bradley and husband, Boone, and Keelie Scism Begley, and husband, Nate; his grandson, Landon Hubbard; and his great-granddaughter, Annalise Harmon Bradley. He is also survived by his four brothers, Miles Hammett and wife, Trudy, Lamar Hammett and wife, Pauline, Ray Hammett and wife, Margaret, and Frank Hammett; two sisters Peggy Agardy and Mary Gibbons and husband, David; his five sistersin law, Deannie McCraw and husband, Bobby, Shirley Potter, Nancy Brown, Judy Mayfield and husband, Roger, Barbara Putnam and husband, Boyd; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be held Friday, Jan. 2, at 3 p.m. at Camps Creek Baptist Church with the Revs. Steve Durham and Dennis Hester officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation was held Thursday, Jan. 1, from 6-8 p.m. at Camps Creek Baptist Church.

Memorials may be made to Camps Creek Baptist Church, 2318 Camps Creek Church Road, Mooresboro, NC 28114.

Arrangements by McKinney Landreth Funeral Home, Cliffside, N.C.

An online guest register is available at www.mckinneylandrethfuneralhome. com.