Obituary for Frederick "Fred" Thomas Hale
Frederick Thomas Hale, 87, passed away at home on Tuesday, January 10, 2023. He had been ill for several months and was helped by Cornerstone Caregiving, Good Shepherd Hospice and his wife and all of his kids.
Fred was born in 1935 in Kansas City Missouri to Tom and Marie Hale. When Fred was 3 years old, his mother remarried Joe McMurray. Joe and Marie had two sons, Ralph and Pat whom he always considered true brothers and they were very special to him.
Fred attended Our Lady of Sorrows Grade School, Rockhurst High School and 3 years at Rockhurst College. Fred joined the US Army and did his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, and was at Travis Airforce Base, near San Francisco where he became an expert marksman while serving in an anti-aircraft missile battalion. He served as a Supply Clerk Specialist 4 during his 2 years of active duty. Fred met his wife at Loose Park in Kansas City one December evening in 1955 when they were both ice skating on the pond. Fred and Mary Ann were married on November 14, 1959 at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in K.C. by Father Frederick Marsch, Fred’s uncle, a Vincentian priest who pastored at St. Joseph’s Church in New Orleans. He also took them to see the sights in New Orleans when they were there on their honeymoon.
Fred and Mary Ann’s first home was in Gladstone Missouri in KC North. Their parish was St. Charles Borromeo. In 1961 their first child Michael was born followed by Kathy in 1963, Debbie in 1969 and Patrick in 1970. Fred was involved with his kids as a leader with the Boy Scouts at Troop 180 at St. Charles and eventually achieved the Bronze Pelican award. He coached his kids sports teams and participated in their activities along with Mary Ann. Fred worked at Ford Motor Assembly Plant in Material Handling for 30 years and retired in 1989. Three months later, Debbie his youngest daughter passed away suddenly, and life changed. Fred and Mary Ann moved to Springfield in 1990 where many of Mary Ann’s family lived. The home they found was sold by someone who knew Debbie. (God’s coincidence.)
Fred had a love of the outdoors and all things nature which made the Ozarks a natural home for him and he felt deeply connected to the area. Fred had a number of interests and hobbies. He was a talented taxidermist and a true artist. He learned his art from a mail order catalog at age 14. Over the years he mounted many birds, ducks, geese, fish, etc. for friends, family and others. His true outdoor passion was fishing and he loved to hunt. Fred loved to clean and eat the fish that he caught, always giving away his bounty to family and friends and especially loved to contribute his catch to the Sisters of Our Mother of Peace. He loved to fish at the “Pot Hole” in Forsyth by the Dam and many other various places around Bull Shoals, Lake Taneycomo, Stockton, Truman and Table Rock.
One of his most memorable experiences, soon after he moved to Springfield, was when he had a job of being a companion and driver for John A. Morris, the father of John L. Morris, owner of the Bass Pro Shops. He very much felt a deep connection to him and to the Bass Pro family that also represented a love of the outdoors. Fred loved to travel and he would bring his young family to the property that he owned with his family in the Ozarks where they fondly remember going to sleep in Gladstone MO and by the morning found themselves transported in the Class C RV to the Ozark property where they explored and enjoyed the great outdoors.
After daily fishing adventures slowed down, Fred’s favorite activity was “going to town” where he always adorned his favorite sport team’s or a military hat or shirt to help promote conversations with anyone he may encounter that day. Fred had an individual special connection with each person he knew and met and loved conversations about the weather or the power pool level at the lakes. Everyday afternoons were spent with his wife which he always called “M.A.,” asking her to look up his garage sale art finds on her trusty Ipad, sure they were millionaires. After the news, they switched to regular Perry Mason re-runs. Each year he would take a special Christmas picture and send out holiday cards and letters to keep family and friends updated on the family happenings for that year. He loved receiving cards and letters back and was proud to display those all year long.
Fred was always proud that he was retired longer than he worked, proud of his family, supportive of his kids education, a great husband, father and grandfather, an artist, an art collector, a poet, a comedian, a good singer, a dancer, a gardener, a historian, and a veteran. Fred was a collector and he had many “valuable” collections of garage sale and thrift store art, and thousands of VHS tapes. He was the creator of the Hale “Wall of Fame,” and a photographer and videographer and an adopter of early technology, way back when it wasn’t cool. Over the years, Fred took thousands of pictures, and has hundreds of slides and videotapes, 8 mm black and whites and color VHS “talkies.”
Fred is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary Ann, son Mike and wife Lynda Hale, daughter Kathy Hale, and youngest son Patrick Hale. Four grandchildren, Nicole and Briana Hale, Christopher Wojtkiewicz and Fiance’ Diana Dimitriou and Michael and Annie Wojtkiewicz. One great granddaughter Nora Wojtkiewicz. He is also survived by two brothers, Ralph McMurray and wife Pic, Patty McMurray, and Patrick McMurray and wife Judy along with aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, high school and fishing buddies and good friends. He leaves many other family members and friends in Kansas City, Springfield and all over the country.
He was preceded in death by his twin infant brothers, Tom and Jerry, and his beloved daughter Debbie, and parents Joe and Marie McMurray and father Tom Hale, grandmother Katherine Marsch and his Uncle Reverend Frederick Marsch.
The family would like to thank Cornerstone Caregiving, especially Donna for her good care of Fred and all of us, along with Kelly, Dan, Kim, Sara, and others at Good Shepherd Hospice.
Services will be at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Springfield Missouri on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. Rosary will be at 10 a.m., followed by visitation at 10:30 a.m. and the funeral mass at 11:30 a.m. The funeral mass will be livestreamed on the church Facebook page at the time of the event. https://www.facebook.com/seaschurch.org/videos/890361475723715
Burial will be on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at Calvary Cemetery in Kansas City Missouri under the care of Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, in Springfield Missouri.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.
Fred was born in 1935 in Kansas City Missouri to Tom and Marie Hale. When Fred was 3 years old, his mother remarried Joe McMurray. Joe and Marie had two sons, Ralph and Pat whom he always considered true brothers and they were very special to him.
Fred attended Our Lady of Sorrows Grade School, Rockhurst High School and 3 years at Rockhurst College. Fred joined the US Army and did his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, and was at Travis Airforce Base, near San Francisco where he became an expert marksman while serving in an anti-aircraft missile battalion. He served as a Supply Clerk Specialist 4 during his 2 years of active duty. Fred met his wife at Loose Park in Kansas City one December evening in 1955 when they were both ice skating on the pond. Fred and Mary Ann were married on November 14, 1959 at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in K.C. by Father Frederick Marsch, Fred’s uncle, a Vincentian priest who pastored at St. Joseph’s Church in New Orleans. He also took them to see the sights in New Orleans when they were there on their honeymoon.
Fred and Mary Ann’s first home was in Gladstone Missouri in KC North. Their parish was St. Charles Borromeo. In 1961 their first child Michael was born followed by Kathy in 1963, Debbie in 1969 and Patrick in 1970. Fred was involved with his kids as a leader with the Boy Scouts at Troop 180 at St. Charles and eventually achieved the Bronze Pelican award. He coached his kids sports teams and participated in their activities along with Mary Ann. Fred worked at Ford Motor Assembly Plant in Material Handling for 30 years and retired in 1989. Three months later, Debbie his youngest daughter passed away suddenly, and life changed. Fred and Mary Ann moved to Springfield in 1990 where many of Mary Ann’s family lived. The home they found was sold by someone who knew Debbie. (God’s coincidence.)
Fred had a love of the outdoors and all things nature which made the Ozarks a natural home for him and he felt deeply connected to the area. Fred had a number of interests and hobbies. He was a talented taxidermist and a true artist. He learned his art from a mail order catalog at age 14. Over the years he mounted many birds, ducks, geese, fish, etc. for friends, family and others. His true outdoor passion was fishing and he loved to hunt. Fred loved to clean and eat the fish that he caught, always giving away his bounty to family and friends and especially loved to contribute his catch to the Sisters of Our Mother of Peace. He loved to fish at the “Pot Hole” in Forsyth by the Dam and many other various places around Bull Shoals, Lake Taneycomo, Stockton, Truman and Table Rock.
One of his most memorable experiences, soon after he moved to Springfield, was when he had a job of being a companion and driver for John A. Morris, the father of John L. Morris, owner of the Bass Pro Shops. He very much felt a deep connection to him and to the Bass Pro family that also represented a love of the outdoors. Fred loved to travel and he would bring his young family to the property that he owned with his family in the Ozarks where they fondly remember going to sleep in Gladstone MO and by the morning found themselves transported in the Class C RV to the Ozark property where they explored and enjoyed the great outdoors.
After daily fishing adventures slowed down, Fred’s favorite activity was “going to town” where he always adorned his favorite sport team’s or a military hat or shirt to help promote conversations with anyone he may encounter that day. Fred had an individual special connection with each person he knew and met and loved conversations about the weather or the power pool level at the lakes. Everyday afternoons were spent with his wife which he always called “M.A.,” asking her to look up his garage sale art finds on her trusty Ipad, sure they were millionaires. After the news, they switched to regular Perry Mason re-runs. Each year he would take a special Christmas picture and send out holiday cards and letters to keep family and friends updated on the family happenings for that year. He loved receiving cards and letters back and was proud to display those all year long.
Fred was always proud that he was retired longer than he worked, proud of his family, supportive of his kids education, a great husband, father and grandfather, an artist, an art collector, a poet, a comedian, a good singer, a dancer, a gardener, a historian, and a veteran. Fred was a collector and he had many “valuable” collections of garage sale and thrift store art, and thousands of VHS tapes. He was the creator of the Hale “Wall of Fame,” and a photographer and videographer and an adopter of early technology, way back when it wasn’t cool. Over the years, Fred took thousands of pictures, and has hundreds of slides and videotapes, 8 mm black and whites and color VHS “talkies.”
Fred is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary Ann, son Mike and wife Lynda Hale, daughter Kathy Hale, and youngest son Patrick Hale. Four grandchildren, Nicole and Briana Hale, Christopher Wojtkiewicz and Fiance’ Diana Dimitriou and Michael and Annie Wojtkiewicz. One great granddaughter Nora Wojtkiewicz. He is also survived by two brothers, Ralph McMurray and wife Pic, Patty McMurray, and Patrick McMurray and wife Judy along with aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, high school and fishing buddies and good friends. He leaves many other family members and friends in Kansas City, Springfield and all over the country.
He was preceded in death by his twin infant brothers, Tom and Jerry, and his beloved daughter Debbie, and parents Joe and Marie McMurray and father Tom Hale, grandmother Katherine Marsch and his Uncle Reverend Frederick Marsch.
The family would like to thank Cornerstone Caregiving, especially Donna for her good care of Fred and all of us, along with Kelly, Dan, Kim, Sara, and others at Good Shepherd Hospice.
Services will be at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Springfield Missouri on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. Rosary will be at 10 a.m., followed by visitation at 10:30 a.m. and the funeral mass at 11:30 a.m. The funeral mass will be livestreamed on the church Facebook page at the time of the event. https://www.facebook.com/seaschurch.org/videos/890361475723715
Burial will be on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at Calvary Cemetery in Kansas City Missouri under the care of Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, in Springfield Missouri.
Permanent online condolences, stories and photos may be shared at www.hhlohmeyer.com.