Earnest “Ernie” C. Hale Jr., 67, of Belle, passed away Tuesday, April 25, 2023.
He was born Jan. 28, 1956, a son of the late Earnest Clinton Hale Sr. and Nora (Belles) Hale in Vienna.
He was a lifelong area resident and a 1974 graduate of Belle High School. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson City.
Ernie was united in marriage to Mariel (Fisher) Branson, April 12, 1996, at Trinity Lutheran Church. Mariel survives at the home.
He was employed at Beck Motors in Freeburg for 14 years and Barreth Chrysler in Washington for eight years before fulfilling his dream and opening Hale’s Hook and Hunt in Linn, which he owned and operated for 25 years.
Ernie loved to hunt and fish and was known for his turkey calling in which he won multiple turkey calling contests. He made several hunting trips to Africa, fulfilling another lifelong dream of shooting a Cape Buffalo in 2017.
He passed his love of hunting, fishing and shooting onto his family. He was a crack shot and together with his daughter, Cassie, won several shooting matches. He and his son, Clint, and many friends participated in local fishing tournaments. Some of his most precious times were spent with his grandson, Isaiah, when they enjoyed being together in the woods or casting a line. Being a salesman, Ernie could tell a story or two, some taller than others, and always enjoyed the laughs he shared.
Ernie served on the Maries R-2 School Board for four years and helped coach basketball and baseball for many years. He was great at cooking old-fashioned meals for the family to enjoy. Above all, Ernie’s greatest joy came from time spent with his family and especially Isaiah. He will be missed tremendously by his family, friends and community.
Ernie was preceded in death by parents, Clinton and Nora; daughter, Ashley Branson; brothers, Charles and Harley Hale; and mother- and father-in-law, Ralph and Dorothy “Granny” Fisher.
He is survived by wife, Mariel; son, Clint Hale and wife Stephanie of Branson West; daughter, Cassie Galbreath and husband Jordan of Jefferson City; grandson Isaiah Galbreath of Jefferson City; siblings, Harry Hale of Laguna Beach, Calif., Dewey Price and wife Ann of Jefferson City, Darrell Hale and wife Desiree of Linn, and Tena Hale of Jefferson City; sister-in-law, Shari Fisher of Jefferson City; and several nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.
Funeral services for Ernie were held Saturday, April 29, at Sassmann’s Chapel in Belle with Reverend Powell officiating. Interment will follow in Skaggs Chapel Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Trinity Lutheran School in Jefferson City or Skaggs Chapel Cemetery in Belle.
Arrangements are under the direction of Sassmann’s Chapel, Belle.
