James Hale

James Hale went to be with the Lord on December 7th, 2020 in Norman, OK. He was born November 2, 1946 in rural Rehoboth, NM into the Kinyaa'áanii Clan (Towering House) for the HaltsooÍ Clan (Meadow People).
He attended Rehoboth Mission School in Rehoboth, NM. Then served in the U.S. Navy for approximately two years and was stationed in San Diego and Guam. His post-secondary education included attending University of New Mexico, University of Oklahoma, Western Carolina University, and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Ultimately earning a certification as a Physician’s Assistant, followed by a bachelor’s degree. He then served as a Physician’s Assistant for 25 years with the Indian Health Service and 10+ years for rural clinics in Oklahoma until his retirement due to health issues.
Throughout Jim’s life he loved sharing his memories, stories, faith and wisdom with all. He was a teacher in the sense, he wanted us to dig deeper, see a bigger picture. He shared his faith regularly and planted that seed in all his children and grandchildren and watched them grow. Family was everything. He took his role as an influencer and “Papa” very seriously. He always had candy to get their attention and that’s all it took to hook them into a life lesson. He loved spending time watching his grandchildren play sports and getting the family together for any occasion. He enjoyed writing, journaling, painting and working on his life story. His passion was to share his story with his grandchildren of where he came from, how his mother became a Christian, and how that shaped his family to overcome and educate themselves to succeed in their future.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Priscilla Tso Hale, father, Anderson Hale, brother, Wilbur Hale, and sister, Jean Shorty.
He is survived by his wife, Mary, and their three children: Bradley Hale and wife, Andrea, of Norman, OK; Alyssa Terrell and husband, Justin, of Moore, OK; Jaime Hale of Los Angeles, CA; and four grandchildren: Fenix Hale, Lauren Dreyer, Madysen Terrell and Beckett Terrell; three brothers: Benny Hale of Sundance, NM; Frank Hale and wife, Jeanne, of Sundance, NM; Ernest Hale of Gallup, NM; four sisters: Gladys Hale, LaNora Zimmerman, Gloria Benally, and Frieda Brown of Gallup, NM.
An informal come-and-go memorial service will be held Friday, December 11th, 5pm-7pm at the Garden of Eatin’ at the First Baptist Church of Norman Family Life Center. Private memorial services will be held in the Spring at homestead in New Mexico with family and friends.