Edwin Lee Hammons Jr.'s Obituary
Edwin Lee Hammons Jr., a longtime area educator, coach, and administrator, passed away at his home in Grove, Oklahoma on Wednesday, July 8, 2026; he was 91.
Hammons was born in Henryetta, Oklahoma to Edwin Lee (Cub) and Norma Ruth (Wilson) Hammons, moved to Tulsa in 1948, and attended Tulsa Central. After graduating high school in 1952, Hammons attended Oklahoma City University and the University of Tulsa, where he played basketball. After attending college, he joined the United States Army and served time in Korea. After returning from Korea, Hammons attended Northeastern State University, where he met his wife, Jean Witbracht; they married August 3, 1959. Hammons completed additional coursework from Independence Community College, Pittsburg State, the University of Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State University. He began teaching at Miami Public Schools, where he coached the boys’ basketball team and later served as Assistant Principal at Miami High School. In 1970, he began teaching at NEO and became the Chairman of the Math and Science Department before retiring in 1991. During his time at NEO, he was able to teach with his son Chip for one year.
He and his wife owned 160 acres that he made his hunting property. He was an avid Fisherman, Deer Hunter. He has several mounts from the deer he harvested displayed at he and Jean’s home in Grove. Ed was preceded in passing by his parents Edwin and Norma Hammons, and his father and mother-in-law, Glenn and Odell Witbracht along with his son in law Dave Lewis.
Those who will carry on Ed’s legacy are his wife Jean Hammons of the home, his daughter Vicki Lewis of Miami, his son Chip Hammons and his wife Kristi of Miami, his granddaughters Kaci Hoffer, Ruthie Hammons, Rylee Hammons and Alyssa Crow and her husband Jason, his great-grandchildren, Davey Hoffer, Lincoln Crow and Collins Crow, along with his sister in law Connie Neuenswander and her husband Dan.
Mr. Hammons will be lying in state from 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Miami.
Services will be on Monday, July 13, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service Chapel in Miami with Reverend Kay Harvey and Mother Mary Susan Whaley officiating. Private Interment will follow at the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery in Miami.
Pallbearers will be Jason Crow, Jack Leake, Mark McDowell, Kevin Panter, Mark Riley, and Mike Stewart.
Honorary PallBearers will be Bill Duffield, Dan Neuenswander, Frank Panter, James Panter, and Tom Panter.
Friends and family may send notes of encouragement to the family by visiting Ed's Tribute Page at www.brown-winters.com.
The family has asked that memorial contributions be made to the Miami Public School Enrichment Foundation or NEO A&M Development Foundation.
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