Beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, Marilyn Kay Lamb Hale passed away peacefully on June 1, 2019. Kay Lamb was born on August 19, 1935 in Warren, Arkansas and was the only child of Zula and John Lamb. She graduated from Warren High School in 1953 and attended Henderson State Teachers College in Arkadelphia, Arkansas where she earned an associate degree.
Upon leaving Henderson, Kay worked for Governor Orval E. Faubus in Little Rock. She worked in the governor’s office and was involved in public relations for the great state of Arkansas. She was very proud of her time working at the capitol.
While in college, Kay met Ronald Hale of Lockesburg, Arkansas. With some effort, Ronald was able to lure Kay away from the bright lights of the capitol and they were married on November 17, 1958. They moved to Camden, Arkansas where Ronald had been named director of the local Boys Club. After almost a year in Camden, Kay and Ronald moved to Bryan, Texas. They arrived in August 1959, with Kay expecting their first child.
Once in Bryan and over the following ten years, the Hale family grew from two to six with the addition of three sons and finally a much-appreciated daughter. Kay embraced her role as full-time wife and mother and part-time carpenter, painter, wallpaper hanger, nurse, plumber, party planner, chauffeur, fashion consultant and chef. Kay was a do-it-yourselfer before the DIY became a thing. She took shop class at Bryan High, self-taught herself any number of other skills that saved money and helped the household. She was ten times the handyman her husband was. She was also a good recruiter, somehow enticing all the neighborhood kids to help with her latest project.
She was an outstanding mother. She put her children first. She made growing up fun. She was nurturing, while also being the day-to-day disciplinarian that was necessary for three boys (the daughter of course was an angel). She did this all while supporting Ronald’s business, civic and military careers.
All four of her children graduated from Bryan High School and moved on to Texas A&M University. She loved being the mother of four Aggies. It was a source of great pride and accomplishment. This also brought a new wave of friends to the Hale house that Kay made welcoming and comfortable.
Kay had ten grandchildren that she loved and enjoyed immensely. They brought excitement, noise and energy to the house. She was a wonderful and loving Grammi.
Kay is survived by; her son Ronnie and wife Debbie; her son Randy and wife Tracy; her son Richie and wife Le; and her daughter Kerri Rothell and husband Dave. She is also survived by ten adoring grandchildren: Reese and wife Catherine, Molly, Alex, Abbey, Hannah, Matthew, Caleb, Grayton, Kate and William. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Jan Barbo of Espanola, NM, her brother-in-law Larry Hale and wife Cindy of De Queen, AR, and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Ronald and her parents John and Zula Lamb of Warren, Arkansas.
The family is profoundly grateful for Doris McFalls and the loving care she provided our mother for the past four years. We are also grateful to wonderful caregivers Joyce Martin and Beverly Hunter.
The funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday June 8, 2019, at First United Methodist Church in Bryan, Texas. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Friday June 7, at Memorial Funeral Chapel in Bryan, Texas.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to B-CS Habitat for Humanity (habitatbcs.org).
