Lucy Ellen (Hammer) Love, age 86, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by family on October 22, 2025. She was born on March 28, 1939, in Alexandria, Louisiana to Donald and Vivian Hammer.

She was the oldest of six children and she attended Kindergarten and 1st grade in Louisiana before her family moved to Enterprise, Oregon in 1946. Her family lived in Enterprise for five years before moving to their long-term home in Pasco, Washington when Lucy was in the 7th grade. She finished her schooling as a proud graduate of Pasco High in 1957. Lucy thoroughly enjoyed her busy high school years when she was a cheerleader, majorette, and belonged to the International Order of Rainbow Girls where she worked hard to earn the leadership role of Worthy Advisor.

It was also during her high school years that she met the love of her life, Danny Love. She was 15 at the time and after four years of dating, and one year after graduating high school, they married. As a young married couple, they had a lot of fun going out with family and friends to hear her husband Danny's band (The Sundowners) play, where they could all socialize and dance the night away. Lucy and Danny also enjoyed taking road trips to Las Vegas to see big name music artists and comedy acts. Then four years into their marriage they had the great joy of welcoming their first child, Daniel Mark Love, who would come to be called Danny Mark by all of the family. Their second child, Kathlyn Dawn Love, came 5 years later and their family was complete. Lucy had many talents and being a mother was her greatest one of all. She was an incredibly loving mother to her children, and she always put them first in everything she did. She was always there to support them in everything they chose to do. She was our rock that we could always go to for advice, support, and love. She was the greatest mother anyone could ever ask for, and we will be forever grateful to be her children.

In addition to raising a family, Lucy also had a very accomplished professional life. She began her career as a secretary at Hanford right after graduating high school. She started with General Electric (GE) and worked at Hanford until her husband was transferred to Longview, Washington for his job at the Port of Longview in 1969. Lucy quickly found a job at the Trojan Nuclear Power Plant working for Bechtel as an Executive Secretary. Lucy and her family would spend 10 very happy years living in Longview before returning to the Tri-Cities in 1979. This brought her back to working at Hanford for J.A. Jones Construction, where she was an Executive Secretary to the President. During this time, she was given the added responsibility of performing all communications for the company and became a Communications Specialist. When J.A. Jones lost their contract, she continued to work for the new contractor, Kaiser Engineers Hanford, in that same role. It was during her tenure with Kaiser Engineers that she worked her way up to being named the first Female Vice President of a company at Hanford. A true testament to her hard work and capabilities. Lucy loved her work in the communications field, and it provided her with many cherished experiences and memories. After a very brief retirement Lucy was asked to come back to work by her former boss, Dick French, to do communications for the newly created Department of Energy Office of River Protection. After helping to get that new office up and running, she briefly retired again, only to be asked to come back to work yet again by Dick, but this time in the role of one of the owners and founding members of a new company he was starting called Federal Engineers and Constructors (FE&C). Lucy was excited and honored to be asked to join this endeavor and she worked for FE&C for the first 3 years they were in business before finally retiring for good. She continued to serve on the company's Board of Directors for many more years after she retired.

Lucy had many activities and hobbies that she enjoyed. She was an avid reader, loved interior decorating, enjoyed music and going to concerts, loved to travel, and perhaps most of all, shoe shopping! She loved decorating for every holiday and hosting family and friends for holidays and parties.

Lucy is survived by her two children; Son Danny (wife Julee) and Daughter Kathy, Siblings; Mike Hammer (wife Linda), Valoria Loveland, Pam Edwards (husband Bob), and George Hammer. Granddaughter Jordan Long and Grandson Daniel (DJ) Love, Nieces; Jennifer Thwaits, Darci Suttle, Heather Axel, Amy Lee, Kyla Hammer, Julie Bussell, Tracy Clark, Nephews; Mike Hammer, Matt Hammer, Mark Hammer, David Loveland, James Miller Jr., Donny Hammer, Great Nieces; Hannah Lee, Morgan Suttle, Iris Thwaits, Aislyn Hammer, Maleah Goree, Neva Hammer, Piper Miller, Nichole Paris, Great Nephews; Simon Thwaits, Nevaeh Goree, Drew Axel, Tyler Axel, Sam Thwaits, Brody Hammer, Danny Paris, Tyler Bussell.

Lucy is preceded in death by her parents Donald and Vivian Hammer, husband Danny Love, sister Mary Helen Miller, and nephew Erik Lee.

The family would like to thank the incredible team from Tri-Cities Home Health who provided Lucy with such loving and supportive care. Specifically; Gretchen, Allie, Kristina and Chad. We also would like to thank Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Hospice for their professional and tender care of our mother.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at Mueller's Tri-Cities Funeral Home in Kennewick beginning at 1:00pm. The family will be hosting a reception at the Tri-City Country Club (now called the Zintel Creek Golf Club) following the service from 3-6:00pm. The club is located at 314 N. Underwood Street in Kennewick. We hope you will join us to celebrate Lucy and share memories.