| Notes |
- General Notes: Ibid . B&D-Social Security Index & daughter, Sharon Lammon Tracy.
Note from John Floyd Lammon [with edits in brackets by Foy's daughter, Sharon]:
Both Freddie Foy Lammon and James Floyd Lammon were born in Hartford, Alabama. Both left home in their early years. Freddie went to Arkansas and James went west to California. Neither finished High School with James completing only the eighth grade. [Freddie finshed high school.]
Freddie met and married Mary Osborn [in Arkansas]. Their first child was Freddie Franklin Lammon [II] who was born in Arkansas and named after his grandfather, Freddie Franklin Lammon. The three moved to Kentfield, California about two years later. Their second child was James Carlton Lammon who died at birth due to birthing complications. They moved to Marin, California where their third child, Sharon Lee Lammon, was born. They remained in Marin and their fourth and last child, Cindy Louise Lammon, was born. They moved to Hayward, California where Freddie Foy Lammon lived until his death in 1993 of natural causes. Mary Lammon continues to live in the home they had together. Sharon Lammon was married three times and is currently living in the state of Oregon [Washington]. Sharon had no children. Cindy Lammon has been married twice giving birth to two children, Larry Benjamin Hall and Jennifer Leann Hall. Cindy continues to live in the Hayward area. Larry Benjamin Hall moved to Oregon where he fathered two [three] children, Timothy Joel Hall, Travis Jordan Hall [and Tyler James Hall]. Larry Hall and his family continue to reside in Oregon.
Freddie Foy Lammon served in the U. S. Navy [Army] during World War 11 and was honorably discharged. He developed a skill as a mechanic, which was his trade throughout his life. He worked for several companies. He and James Floyd Lammon went into business together, which lasted for a couple of years. He ultimately opened his own business[, the last one] in Union City, California. He named his business the Lammon Auto Repair and was located only a few miles from his home. He continually worked in his business until his retirement in the late 1970's.
Early in his life, following his discharge from the Navy [Army], he developed an alcohol abuse problem, which followed him for several years. His friends and family continued by him through these trying times. Alcohol continued to be his problem and was his escape while dealing with the first real tragedy of his life: the death of his second child, James Carlton Lammon. For no known reason and sometime in the early 1960's, Freddie Foy Lammon developed a relationship with God. He stopped drinking and never had another drink for the rest of his life. His faith kept him strong and he never wavered in his devotion to God and this enabled him to deal with what was probably the second most tragic event in his life - the death of his first born, Freddie Franklin Lammon II, who died tragically in an automobile accident in 1966 while making a delivery for his father. In fact, the contrary occurred. He increased his devotion to his family and friends; he worked harder to improve his business; and, his faith in God seemed to increase. He became a devoted parishioner to his church, the Christian World Ministries, and helped others work through the same tragedies and problems that he himself had lived through.
Note from daughter, Sharon: First a bit about my dad Freddie Foy Lammon. He was born Nov 2, 1912 named at birth Eddie Foy. When he started school he insisted on being called Freddie Foy. However, his family called him Foy. Later when dad went into the Army, He was told he would have to legally change his name to Freddie if he wanted to use it. He wanted to be Freddie, not Eddie, so he legally had his name changed.
By the time I was born people called him Fred, except Uncle James, Howard, Carl, and any one else in the Lammon family. So when you talk about my dad to the family he's best known as Foy. Rachael Lammon would know him as Foy. You said she was sharp. Well, since dad was 41 when I was born, I can only share what I was told up till then. Howard would be able to tell more. Howard and Carl Lee were real close to my dad. Howard said he and Carl would go with my dad on his dates. You figure daddy was about 19 or 21 years older, when they were born. My dad told me a few things.
One story was about him and one of his cousins. There was a stack of wood piled up behind the girl's outhouse. Which sat in the field where the boys played baseball. Dad and this cousin, I'm not sure who, but I think it was Royce. They planned between them selves. That the next time the baseball was hit over by the outhouse, and one of them had the chance to run after it. They would grab a board from the stack of wood, and shove it up under the girl's outhouse. And it happens! Then they waited not days but weeks dad said before the next chance came. Well it did, and one of them ran by and jumped on that board.
Now, is that not an awful thing to do? But I would laugh and laugh so hard. Can you imagine what that poor girl looked like? I do believe my dad got a kick out of that story every time he told it because he would laugh as hard as I did.
Daddy was a severe alcoholic. And he would not mind me telling you this, because he would want you to know what God did for him. In 1961 at age 49 my dad came home after a weeklong binge. And the pastor just happen to call, dad ask him to come over. He told my mother (Mary) I need help. I can't live like this any more! Rev. Wilson came over and prayed with my dad. Notice I said prayed with him not for him. I believe that this is what makes the difference. Daddy wanted to be delivered from the one thing that had haunted him. My mother also had been fasting that whole week. Now you can say what you want, but that is when our home began to change. Some family members remembered just how bad he was. I myself can, but I also witnessed the change. Until my dad died he lived 32 more years from that very day clean and sober. Not that everything was perfect, but it was the beginning.
And later about 1987 he was made an elder of his church. He and my mom also help home mission churches get started with as little as five members. And watch them grow into congregation large enough to build or buy a new church.
He truly loved the Lord and was always grateful for each year he lived. About eight years after he stopped drinking in 1969, we almost lost dad. He had more than half of his stomach removed from bleeding ulcers. It was said he only had about three pints of blood left, and we would be lucky if he lives and if he does, there probably would be brain damage. He did live, but was unable to work and had to take an early retirement. I can tell you that there was no brain damage. None! Thank God.
And later when he gained strength he worked out of his home. He had taught many young men the automobile trade. These men now make their livings in the auto mechanics trade. There are times I miss him so much when I smell gas or go into a shop. By the way did I tell you he was a mechanic? A great mechanic! We grew up in the shops. As a matter of fact when dad almost died in 1969 he had a Texaco station. My cousin Virginia and I ran the gas station. Dad had a garage in 1962 he called LAM-MON AUTO REPAIR. The sign was black with bright reddish orange letters. This sign was up on top of the building bigger and brighter than any one else's. You couldn't miss it! He told me the LAM-MON being spelled this way was to catch the eye. And if that didn't work those bright letters would.
Elmer, you said it was known that the LAMMON boys were jokesters. And according to daddy they were, but they loved their family. I ask my sister Cindy Louise (Lammon) Denham what would she say stood out most in her mind and life about dad? She said she always felt safe and loved. We knew we would never want for anything. He probably over did it. We were connoisseurs of every kind of food you could imagine. I believe this stemmed from his family going through the depression in the 30's.
Now, about that time, Mom said, that was when Big Daddy and family came to CA. Howard Lee was born in CA. Big Daddy (Freddie Franklin Lammon) made knifes and sold them. And I heard Big Momma never really got over it, she seen her grand children go without enough to eat. I heard Aunt Erna Lee and my dad talk about her, being very sad even after they moved back to Alabama. Napier Field was where they ended up. When I was 11 years old, we took our first trip back to dad's birthplace in Alabama. He felt we should know where our family came from. That's when I was told about the Cotton Gin. And that, for years, the next owners would paint over the words LAMMON and SONS, but they would bleed though every time. So our great grand father and his boys must have own it at one time.
I was told things I did not remember until the last few years - some of the pictures we have of grave sites there in Alabama with the names Fields, Barnes, Lammon.
Well I should tell you about my bother Freddie Franklin Lammon II. He was known for his building of go-carts, and mini bikes. He would take and sell his prize mini bike, buy parts to build three or four more. Sell them and buy back his prize one and make money. He had one of the best looking and fastest go-carts ever. He loved to fish, go frog gigging, camping and motorbikes. I guess you know by now, he too was a mechanic. He was on his way to work when he had the accident that caused his death. The tire blew. Two other people lost their lives - he never knew this. He lived two days and kept telling mom and dad to tell the two ladies he was sorry. This was very hard on mom and dad. Daddy's bloodline would end here, but for my sister's son Larry Benjamin Hall. Name change, but most certainly a Lammon. He is a fine man. He says Grandpa taught him every thing he knows. Using the skill of his hands, he now works in industrial construction. And he too is very proud to be a part of the Lammon family. Ben has three boys of his own, Timothy, Travis and Tyler. The one big reason why I am making sure they have this book about the Lammons. Their Grandmother, Cindy Louise (Lammon) Denham is also proud to be a Lammon. Daddy made us proud!
The other person who is just as wonderful is my sister's daughter. Jennifer Leann Hall, a beautiful young lady who also has the god given talents of our forefathers or, I should say, grandmothers. She started working a cash register at seven years old in the first restaurant I managed. Well I've started this letter a few times, and after talking to you yesterday I need to finish it. Ben and Julie have another boy, Tyler. He was born Nov. 4, 2001 almost 4 months old now another Great Grandchild to dad. Jennifer and her husband David Carroll have had their first child Natasha. This would be daddy's first Great Granddaughter born Dec. 20 2001. Two months and 9 days old today.
You ask me about my grandfather. He did help build the Golden Gate Bridge, daddy also work on the bridge. I wish we had pictures of this happening. I'm not able to tell a whole lot about Big Daddy because I never knew him. But my mother says he was wonderful to her. He would let her take iodine and draw pictures on top of his head - he was bald.
As a child I thought this was so funny and would picture my mother doing this. She was only 16, and a little thing. I would love to tell all of the stories dad told but just can't remember them all. I will be sending pictures of dads Great Grandchildren to you Sunday. My sister and I have wonderful memories of our dad and thoughts of family because of dad's portrayal of them.
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1912 - 1993 (80 years)
