Charles Raymond Hale Sr

Always ready to talk (and sometimes ready to listen), Charles Raymond Hale Sr. was never without a story to tell or an opinion to express. Talking to people, whether he knew them or not, was what he enjoyed most. He loved his family, and he loved his horses. He passed his love of horses to his three children who competed in rodeos and other events. He accomplished one of his bucket list items when he and his son Chuck went to South Dakota to ride with the buffalo. Hale died Monday, January 16, 2017, at his home in Huntsville at the age of 76, grateful to have lived long enough to see his kids grow up and grateful for the wonderful, loving years he spent with his wife Judge Barbara Wade Hale. In addition to his wife, his survivors include his three children and their spouses: Robin and Bailey Moore of Blanco, Charla and Scott Cobel of Magnolia, and Charles (Chuck) Raymond Hale Jr. of Huntsville. He is also survived by his grandchildren Megan Hildebrandt Garner and her husband Shane and Mallory Hildebrandt Brock and her husband Matt of Blanco, Aubrey and Kinlee Cobel of Magnolia and Cassidi and Camryn Hale of Tomball and Kinidi Moore of Blanco. His great grandchildren are MacKenzie and Rowdy Topper, Miley and Mabry Brock, and Kylie and Ryker Garner, all of Blanco. He is also survived by his mother, Tennie Hickox Hale of Dayton. Other survivors include his sisters and their spouses Dorethea and Bill Norville of Pasadena, Martha and Norman Brown of Dayton and Mary and Eddy Etheredge of Kyle. He is predeceased by his father Joe Hale and his youngest sister Katherine Hale Dittrich. Part of a very large extended family, Hale is also survived by many nieces and nephews as well as great and great great nieces and nephews. Born in Marlin on February 29, 1940, he was the son of Joe and Tennie Hickox Hale. Although the family lived briefly in Galveston and Houston during WWII, Hale spent his formative years living in the country between Marlin and Groesbeck, where he was active in 4-H. Charles attended a variety of schools, beginning with his mother as his teacher in a one-room country school in Odds and another in the Criswell community. He started fourth grade in Marlin, but the family moved to San Marcos in 1953 after the death of his father. They lived there three years before moving to Pasadena, where he graduated from Pasadena High School in 1958. A salesman, Hale worked many years selling heavy equipment before moving to Huntsville to sell cars at Cole Motor Company. He retired from the Texas Department of Corrections. Pall bearers will be Jake Bloomer, Cade Rigamonti, Jacob French, Jeffrey French, Trey Allred and Alvis Scott. Honorary pall bearers will be Huey Campbell, Freddie Sikes, Sonny Sikes, Sidney Grisham, Tom Fordyce and Rusty Davis. Visitation will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at Sam Houston Funeral Home in Huntsville. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 19, 2017 at the funeral home, with the Rev. Holly Dittrich of Hurst officiating.

Charles Raymond Hale Sr

February 29, 1940 - January 16, 2017