James Richard 'Pappy' Hale
James Richard “Pappy” Hale passed away Thursday, Feb. 22, surrounded by his family.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, at Aulds Funeral Home in Archer City, with Rev. Roger Deerinwater and Deacon Don Brown, officiating. Interment will follow in the Archer City Cemetery under the direction of Aulds Funeral Home.
Family visitation will be from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25, at Aulds Funeral Home.
Pappy was born in Electra, on Dec. 3, 1939 to Alden Marcus and Audrey Sarah Richards Hale. He graduated from Electra High School in 1958 and attended Southwestern College in Weatherford, Oklahoma for a period of time before joining the U.S. Army. Pappy was a Sergeant in the U.S. Army, serving at Fort Irwin, California as a surgical technician/medic. After leaving the Army he worked for Burlington Northern Santa Fe as a telegraph operator. He moved from there into oilfield work, working for Texaco for a number of years before going to work with his brother, Dub, at Hale Oil and Gas. He retired in 2012, after spending twenty years working for Air Tractor in Olney.
Pappy met the love of this life, Sue Ann Dutton, during high school. He began dating her after leaving the Army in 1964 and married her on Sept. 5, 1964. Together, Pappy and Nee-Nee built a beautiful life. Pappy’s greatest joy was his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved rock hunting, fishing, was an avid reader and had a particular love of Lay’s Potato Chips, insisting no meal was complete without them!
Pappy was preceded in death by his parents, Alden Marcus Hale and Sarah Richards Hale; and his brother, W.D. “Dub” Hale.
He is survived by his loving wife, Sue Ann Dutton Hale of Archer City; his son, Mark Hale and wife, Judy of Windthorst; daughter, Melissa Williams and husband, Ronnie of Archer City; daughter, Amy. D. Hale of Archer City; seven grandchildren, Amanda Beck, Brady Cox and wife, Heather, Savannah Hale and Danny Speers, William Hale, Colter Hale, Paige Ramirez and husband, Anthony and Jordan Bliss and wife, Sarah; fourteen great-grandchildren, Lane Hale, Landyn Hale, Landri Beck, Audrey Hembree, Brendan Cox, Sterling Hale, Thomas Beck, Bailey Beck, Brady Beck, Jaci Cox, Ian Speers, Payton Hembree, Hannah Bliss and Samantha Bliss; and his special caregiver, Tanya Miller.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to the Windthorst Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 162, Windthorst, Texas 76389, Archer City Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 367, Archer City, Texas 76351 or Solaris Hospice, 2405 Kemp Blvd A, Wichita Falls, Texas 76309.
