Margaret Muriel Hale

Margaret (Maggie) Hale passed away peacefully May 16th at St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Washington at the age of 86 years. Having been born in Seattle in 1924, she lived the majority of her life there. She graduated from Roosevelt High School and attended the University of Washington. In 1944, Margaret married Ron (Red) Hale with whom she raised three children, Sharon, Ron Jr., and Marcia. Maggie and Red moved the family to Southern Oregon for about 10 years and then returned to Seattle in 1967. When her husband passed away after nearly 50 years of marriage, Maggie moved to Olympia to be near her daughter, Sharon and family.

Most of her work experience was as a secretary in various educational institutions. While her children were in school, she worked at a rural elementary school in Medford, Oregon as the school secretary. She later served as a central administration secretary for the Medford School District. After returning to Seattle, she worked as a school secretary at Shoreline High School and then as a faculty secretary at Seattle Central Community College.

Maggie was an accomplished musician playing the piano, organ, and violin. She did her best to instill a love of music in her children and grandchildren. She also loved to garden and to travel. Maggie and Red spent many wonderful days boating in Puget Sound and then traveling in their motorhome. They were blessed to be able to travel the world as well. After her husband's passing, Maggie still continued to do extensive travel with her children, including frequent trips to Hawaii and travels to South America, Australia, the Caribbean, and Europe.

She was a devoted, gracious, and loving mother, grandma, great-grandma and friend. Her family is thankful for the many years of cherished memories. Her warm smile, her compassion for others, and her unconditional love for family will forever be remembered. She was always there for her children and grandchildren.

While living in Olympia near her daughter, Sharon, she actively participated in the lives of granddaughter Kristin and her husband Jamie, grandson Michael, and grandson Brendan and his wife, Angie. She attended their sports events, music concerts, school plays, graduations, weddings, and even the births of two of her great-grandchildren, Luke and Evan. We also shared many wonderful visits to our lake vacation homes as well. Nona, as we called her, was a key part of all of our family activities.

Maggie traveled often to Texas to spend time with her son, Ron, and daughter-in-law, Margie. After her husband's passing, the three of them took many vacations together traveling the world. She introduced cruising to both Ron & Margie. Together they shared seven exotic cruises, to the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, South America and Europe. She even toured the Amazon River in a dugout canoe and caught piranhas. She was more than just a mother-in law to Margie. They were friends and traveling buddies. Together, they wore Ron out.

She traveled frequently to Alaska to spend time with her daughter, Marci, son-in-law Paul, and grandson, Silas, his wife Olga and great-grandson, Alex. She delighted in spending summers participating in their outdoor Alaskan lifestyle and even braved a winter visit to attend her grandson's wedding. Always the avid fisherwoman, Maggie took great pride in out-fishing everyone, usually catching the biggest salmon and she had the "over 50 pounder" hat to prove it.

Margaret was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Red Hale, and her daughter-in-law, Margie Hale. She is survived by her sister, Berta Baier; her beloved children, Sharon Heath, Ron Hale, and Marci Zimmerman; her treasured grandchildren, Kristin Heath Murphy, Michael Heath, Brendan Heath and Silas Zimmerman; and her delightful great-grandchildren, Luke and Evan Murphy and Alex Zimmerman.

Remembrances may be given to Macular Degeneration Research at www.ahaf.org or to your favorite charity in Maggie's name.