Wayne Couonty Press
Fairfield, Illinois
Thursday, July 14, 1994
Page 2

A former Fairfield resident, John A. Hale, 59, drowned July 4th in Martin Creek State Park in Tatum, Tex.   He was a brother of Mrs. Bertha Thomason, of Fairfield.

Mr. Hale went to school in the Fairfield area but was a native of Kilgore, Tex., where he had been residing.  The Ben Hale family moved to Fairfield in 1940 during the oil boom.  In more recent years, following a stroke, Mr. Hale had resided with his sister here, returning to Kilgore a couple of years ago.   He was an oil field truck driver and a former Kilgore fireman.

Mr. Hale had repaired his boat motor and was trying it out, going in the water about 4 p.m.  Two hours later his boat was found empty, his hat floating nearby.

Graveside services were held July 9, with closed casket.  Burial was in the Danville, Tex., cemetery.

He was the son of Ben and Robbie Canterbury Hale.

Surviving are five children; nine grandchildren; two sisters, Bertha Thomason, of Fairfield; and Mary Geer of Mabank, Tex.; and a number of other relatives in this area, including nieces Cynthia Eckleberry, of Fairfield, and Diana Toombs, of Mill Shoals.