Jerod Rodney Hammond

BURLEY – Jerod Rodney Hammond, a 35-year-old resident of Burley, went out with a bang driving down the dirt roads in the mountains as if he was in the wild wild West, with his dog, his good ol’ boy Spike.

Jerod was born March 20, 1990, one minute before his twin brother, Jordan Hammond, in Burley, Idaho, to Rodney and Debra (Kelsey) Hammond.

From the start, Jerod and Jordan were out tearing up the neighborhood, running around in their diapers. Even though they were not supposed to be identical twins, you could not tell them apart, so we always dressed Jerod in red so we wouldn’t mix them up. Growing up with the neighborhood kids, they never knew who Jerod or Jordan was, so they just called them “The Twinners”! That stuck for years.

As a little boy, Jerod found his passion for sports, playing football, baseball, swimming at the pool, and riding bikes all over the neighborhood. Heck, he even survived being hit by a car riding a bike when he was little, but that never stopped him! Jerod continued to push forward into junior high and high school, playing football, baseball, track and wrestling. In baseball, he went from playing in the dirt to an astounding outfielder.

Jerod’s one true passion was wrestling. He started in the seventh grade and continued all throughout high school, winning three state medals. All Jerod’s hard work paid off his senior year when he became the 152 lb State Champion. We will never forget this glorious moment in his life. Jerod was so excited and he jumped so high into Coach Milliron’s arms when he took the victory! He still remains the last State Champion wrestler from Burley High School. Due to his outstanding talent in football and wrestling, he received the distinction of Athlete of the Year.

Jerod graduated high school in 2008, as well as graduating with a four-year Seminary diploma. Jerod received a full-ride scholarship for wrestling to Western Wyoming, home of the Mustangs. He wrestled for this college for two years while going to school for diesel mechanics.

After college, Jerod decided to reside in Laramie, Wyoming, where he worked construction. He then moved back to the Burley-Declo area learning a new trade in concrete.

As for hobbies, Jerod loved fishing– you name it, he caught it! Jerod loved camping and everything outdoors. He loved collecting everything under the sun. One of his very favorites was collecting rocks, “his precious gems”. He filled his parents’ yard with hundreds of rocks; he gave rocks to everyone and showed everyone his rocks. He also loved singing. Jerod sang all over the house, sang with his family and friends, or just out loud in the kitchen. It drove his parents crazy but he didn’t care.

Jerod was such a good-hearted, soft, gentle soul. We will never forget his homemade famous breakfast potatoes. So caring and thoughtful, he talked to anyone and everyone and he was always thinking of others before himself.

Jerod loved his dog, Spike; they were inseparable and Spike loved him. He will be truly missed but never forgotten.

Jerod is survived by his parents, Rodney and Debra Hammond; siblings, Tiffany (Lenard) Wells, Brandy (Gun) Oto, Tawnie Smith, Jamie Campbell, Blake (Angel) Smith, and Jordan Hammond; and many beautiful nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Bob and Dolores Kelsey; his grandmother, Beverly Silvera; uncles, Robert Fenton, Paul Kelsey, Bret Kelsey, and Lynn Kelsey; his aunts, Regina Hammond, and Denise Kelsey; nephew, William Wells; cousin, Jamie Kelsey and baby, Lively.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday July 2, at the Burley High School, Little Theatre located at 2100 Park Ave., in Burley with Bishop Ryan Hobson officiating. Burial will follow at the Basin Cemetery in Oakley, Idaho.

Family and friends will be received from 5 until 7p.m. Tuesday Jul 1, at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, located at 1350 East 16th Street in Burley and one hour prior to the service at the Burley High School, Little Theatre.

A live webcast of the Funeral Service will be available and maintained at the following link: https://youtu.be/aZwZPsos-ME.

Our beloved son, Jerod, passed away in a one-person vehicle rollover. We would like to thank those who rendered serious medical assistance in attempt to save his life. We would also like to thank all those who have reached out, brought meals, supplies, flowers, donations, kind words and prayers.