Jeffrey Garner Hamilton

On Monday, October 5, 2020, Jeffrey Garner Hamilton, loving father of two children and beloved son and brother, passed away at the age of 50. Jeff was born on September 13, 1970, and spent the majority of his childhood years in Norman, Oklahoma, attending Monroe, Whittier, West, and Norman High School. While Jeff was a lifelong Sooner fan, he was also a proud “Wahoo,” receiving a B.A. in Foreign Affairs and Russian Studies from the University of Virginia in 1992. Jeff subsequently attended Emory University School of Law, graduating with distinction in 1995. After law school, Jeff spent two years as a federal law clerk. He then practiced business and bankruptcy litigation law for 23 years in Dallas, Texas. In 1997, Jeff married Elizabeth Hamilton (nee Hwang). The couple had two children, Claudia Elise Hamilton (b. 2004) and Cade William Hamilton (b. 2010).
Jeff was an incredibly smart and talented man. He was also well-known for his quick wit and biting sense of humor. His loved ones would agree that it was a badge of honor to engage in this humorous, intellectual sparring that was a Jeff Hamilton trademark.
Jeff could, at times, have a tough outer shell. But for those who knew him, it was a privilege to know who Jeff was at his core—a loyal friend and family member who made sure to show up when it mattered. Given his sometimes-gruff exterior, it might come as a surprise to some to learn that Jeff was remarkably good with infants and animals, particularly wayward ones (to be clear, wayward animals, not babies). A self-proclaimed “baby whisperer,” he delighted in those early months of a child’s life that others find so challenging. And he was one of the few people who escaped without injury from his sister’s extremely temperamental Chihuahua. In fact, the unlikely pair seemed to genuinely enjoy one another’s company. Of course, Jeff attributed this to the “fact” that he and said dog had a “mutual understanding”.
Jeff was incredibly sentimental, to a point that he was frequently teased about his hoarding tendencies. But, for Jeff, everything had a memory attached to it. He was particularly obsessed with family traditions, especially Christmas. And while it drove his family crazy how everything had to be “just so” for the holidays, they loved seeing Jeff light up as he observed his children enjoying the same traditions that were so meaningful to Jeff as a child.
Above everything, Jeff loved his family, especially his children. He loved to create special memories with his kids. From teaching them how to make snow ice cream and baking and decorating Christmas cookies, to introducing them to the Texas State Fair and all of the fried food, stuffed animals, and rides it had to offer. He also enjoyed teaching his kids the joy of camping (or, in the case of his daughter, “glamping”), how to fish (and, most importantly, how to hold your catch just right for photos), and the way to do an at-home movie night right. Jeff was also an avid Star Wars fan, a passion that he passed on—and ultimately shared with—his son.
Jeff was preceded in death by his biological father, William Douglas Hamilton, M.D. He is survived by his parents, Judy Hamilton Morse and David Morse; his children, Claudia and Cade Hamilton; his siblings, Bryan (Rebekha) Hamilton, Lindsey (Brad) Heinz, and Ashley Morse (Mike Tran); his children’s mother, Elizabeth; and a host of beloved nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and close friends.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Jeff’s name to Second Chance (secondchancenorman.com), an animal sanctuary in Norman, Oklahoma; Heart House (hearthousedallas.org), an organization that provides services to refugee children in the Dallas area and for which Jeff proudly served on the Board of Directors for many years, including as Board President; or a charity of your choice in Jeff’s name.
Finally, the family asks that, in honor of Jeff, please tell your loved ones how much they mean to you—even if you think they already know.