Roger Hale

Roger Noel Hale left this world peacefully at his home in Whitney on the evening of July 19, 2017. Known as “Buddy” to family and many friends, Roger resided in Cleburne for 36 years with his wife, Jerry. They were married for 62 years and Roger passed just a few short weeks before their 63rd anniversary. The couple had relocated to Whitney in March of this year.
Roger was a loving husband, father of two, and someone always willing to lend a hand. He enjoyed a wide circle of cowboy friends and others from all walks of life. His enthusiasm and charismatic personality will be missed, but he will be remembered as the robust, energetic man that he was for so many years.
An accomplished horseman, Roger enjoyed many years of his life spending time with his closest friends in his roping arena near Cleburne. A long-time member of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Posse, he liked being with people who enjoyed the Western lifestyle as much as he did!
Roger was born in Slaton, TX to Ezma Haigood Hale and J.L. Hale. He graduated from Lubbock High and attended college at Eastern New Mexico State in Portales, NM. He married his college sweetheart and the love of his life, Jerry Lynne Fuqua in 1954. Shortly after marriage, Roger was called to serve his country in the United States Navy. After that, he spent 42 years in the broadcast and engineering realm of television, serving as Chief Engineer for several TV stations in Texas, New Mexico, Georgia and Tennessee. Later in life, he perhaps found his true calling in sales with the electronic firm Grass Valley Group/ TekTronics, where he was honored as the company’s “Top Producer” for several consecutive years. He retired from TekTronics in 2000.
A man of many talents, it is notable that along his career path he was a radio DJ and on-air personality, a country music singer/songwriter who released 6 records in the 1960’s, a microwave technician in the Rocky Mountains, cowboyed in the Texas Panhandle, managed the cable TV system in Hereford TX and built and operated a music recording studio! The move to Cleburne in 1979 allowed him to focus on his sales career and gave him time to enjoy his true passions – horses and team roping.
Roger was preceded in death by his mother, Ezma Hale of Lubbock TX. He is survived by his wife, Jerry Lynne, sister, Joyce Wartes of Hereford TX, and his brother, Robert Hale of Weatherford.
Roger is the father of two children, Pete Hale and Holly Lynne Totten and four grandchildren. Pete and his wife Linda reside in Georgetown and are the parents of Justin and Courtney Lynne. Justin and wife Amy reside in Bryan TX, and Courtney Lynne and Carl Gerken, in Houston, TX. Roger’s daughter Holly Lynne is married to Erik Totten of Whitney. Their children - Riley and his wife Laura Beth, live in New Berlin, TX, and daughter, Chelsea Lynne and Brad Morrow reside in Clifton, TX.
Visitation for family and friends will be held from 2 – 4 PM, Sunday, August 6, 2017 in the Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Chapel. All friends are encouraged to attend. A family ceremony will be conducted following visitation.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions in Roger’s memory to: Providence Hospice (a 501(c)3 organization) at P.O. Box 573, Whitney, TX 76692
The family wishes to thank the Providence Hospice team in Whitney for their care and compassion.