CIMARRON – Claude E. Hale, 80, died February 16, 2022 at St. Catherine's Hospital in Garden City, Kansas.

He was born November 30, 1941 11 miles north of Copeland, the son of Clyde Joseph and Mary Lottie (Spalding) Hale. He was a lifetime resident of Gray County graduating from Cimarron High School in 1959.

He worked different jobs during his lifetime. Some were custom harvesting from Texas to North Dakota, the Kerr Sand Pit, Warner Ranch, Gray County and USD 102 where he was the Bus Barn Supervisor/Mechanic, driving students in the Charter bus on trips and sports activities.

He was a member of the First Christian Church in Cimarron. He enjoyed fishing and always loved his birthday trip with both his son and grandson to Lake Texhoma, Oklahoma. There were many fun fishing trips to Norton County Lake with his daughter and grandchildren, Cody, Cole and Shyanne. The family also had many gatherings at the Clark County Lake, Horsethief Reservoir, Haines Lake and Ford County Lake. You would find him most afternoons taking his dog, Sam for a run in the country.

On May 23, 1965 he married Betty Figger. She preceded him in death on February 12, 1980.

Survivors include: son, Leonard "Lee" Hale and wife Tori, Wright, Kansas; daughter, Debbie "Deb" Beckett and husband Vince, Duncan, Oklahoma; 6 grandchildren, Nathan Hale, Marissa Thorton and husband Dallas, Samantha Hale, Cody Hale and wife Nikki, Cole Miller and wife Sydney and Shyanne Miller and husband Trevor; 8 great grandchildren; 3 sisters, Elsie Toothaker and husband Eugene, Gladys Cagna and husband Sam and Renda Beery and husband Joe all of Cimarron; his dog, Sam; numerous nephews and nieces; and a host of friends.

He was also preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Norma Hale.

Funeral service will be Monday, February 21, 2022 at 11:00 am at the First Christian Church, Cimarron with David Johnson officiating. Burial will follow at the Cimarron Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Cimarron.

The family suggests memorials to the First Christian Church in Cimarron in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 446, Cimarron, Kansas 67835.