Mary "Cay" Catherine Hale

Mary (Cay) Catherine Hale, 91, of Culpeper passed away peacefully on November 19, 2019. Mary Cay was born in Clarksburg West Virginia on December 16, 1927 to Garrett Adam and Anna Louise Everts. Mary Cay attended West Virginia University where she met the love of her life, Bob (Robert Fleming) Hale Sr; and they were married on June 17, 1947. Mary Cay’s upbringing was unique due to the loss of her mother at a very young age. The loss of her Mother and being raised by a single father in the 1930s, shaped Mary Cay into the welcoming, loving and caring individual everyone knew and cherished. Mary Cay enriched the lives and minds of many Culpeper children by teaching preschool at The Culpeper Baptist Church, Saint Luke’s Lutheran School and serving on the board of Culpeper United Methodist Church programs. She was a devoted member of “The Eating Bridge Club” and enjoyed entertaining her friends and family. Mary Cay loved to bake desserts, particularly her signature Gertrude chocolate cake, and enjoyed hosting holidays, birthdays along with special dinners and events. One of Mary Cay’s many gifts was making sure everyone felt special and included. Mary Cay loved to travel and experience new things and see the world; she particularly loved the beach and valued her family trips each summer. She enjoyed reading a good book, going to the movies and regularly enjoyed going shopping and out for lunch with friends and family. Mary Cay had a deep love of animals and was well known for stopping on the side of the road to pick up an animal in need without hesitation. This led to her involvement and her assistance in the creation of the Culpeper Humane Society and the Trap/Neuter/Release Feline program for our community. Mary Cay is survived by her two children Robert Fleming Hale Jr. (Linda Benson) and her loving daughter Cynthia H. Backe (John Backe), four grandchildren; Jamey Hale, Suzanna Christian, Garrett Backe and Caytlin Watts, along with four great-grandchildren; Dezi, Nelley, Kyley and Aurey, four nieces and nephews, and one great grand-dog Nalyah, whom she adored. In addition to her parents, Mary Cay was preceded in death by her husband Robert Fleming Hale Sr., son Jimmy Hale and sister Lou Carroll. The family will receive friends on Saturday, November 30, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Clore-English Funeral Home with a 12:00 p.m. Celebration of Life to follow in the Clore-English Chapel. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Culpeper Humane Society, P.O. Box 1032, Culpeper, VA 22701 or the Culpeper Animal Shelter, 10144 James Monroe Highway, Culpeper, VA 22701.