Robert Kay Hale

Where does one start in writing an obituary about such a wonderful, cheerful, sweet man? The world lost a good one when Robert Kay Hale passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, September 21, 2014. He will be terribly missed by his family and loved ones, and the myriad of friends he left behind. He truly embodied the spirit of Will Rogers in terms of never having met a man he didn't like.

Life began for Bob on April 7, 1934, in Clarendon, Texas, the only child of Alex and Hazel Hale. With the economy being what it was in those days, the Hales relocated to Los Angeles for better opportunities, only to return to Groom, Texas about a decade later to resume their teaching careers. It was at this point that Bob learned that the rodeo that was coming to town was not pronounced a "row-DAY-oh". He could certainly always laugh at himself, and was a great thief of jokes, stealing your good ones and telling them better than you could.

After graduating from the University of Texas, Bob was drafted into the Army and served stateside, after the Korean War. He found his true calling in 1965, when he and a few friends formed Southwest Securities, and he was successful in the municipal bond market until he retired in June, 2013. Having raised his children, he then turned to one of his greatest passions…….traveling……..from Europe to Africa to Panama to Bora Bora to the Aleutian Islands to Ushuaia, Argentina…..and all places in between…….he came to love experiences and memories over material possessions. He was able to enjoy these experiences with the love of his life, Sheila Skaggs Hale, who shared his love of traveling as well. He was also able to instill these values into his children and grandchildren, generously sending them on exotic trips they would otherwise not be able to experience.

As Bob was battling cancer in recent months, he understandably became more retrospective in nature, confiding with loved ones that he had had a wonderful life and had done everything he ever wanted to. And praises to his loving wife Sheila, who despite her own health issues stood by her man to his last breath.

Bob is survived by his wife Sheila; his son, David Hale and his wife Barbara; his daughter, Sarah Plowman and her husband Tom; grandchildren, Emily Gowan, Katie Thompson, Zachary Plowman; his great-grandchildren, Hazel and Alex Gowan; his close cousins, Jim Lowry and Adam Lowry; his stepson, Keane Mathews and his family; and his many, many friends.

As per Bob's wishes, there will be no ceremony, but family and loved ones will gather in New Orleans (his favorite place), take him on one last trip to Pat Obrien's, then scatter his ashes into the mighty Mississippi. Hold a good thought for Bob and keep smiling. He's someplace better now, telling your jokes better than you can.

In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting Bugles Across America (http://www.buglesacrossamerica.org/), a nonprofit organization that provides a live bugler to play Taps at any veteran's service.