Earle Harley Hales

Earle H. Hales, Long-time Nio. Resident Dies

Funeral service for Earle H. Hales, 79, was held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday at the Peet Chapel. Mr. Hales died at the family home January 13.

Officiating at the service was the Reverend Fred F. Bolinger of the First Baptist Church of Lusk. Dan Christian, soloist, sang "Rock of Ages" and "In the Garden" accompanied by organist Mrs. J. P. Watson. Military rites were performed at the gravesite in the Lusk Cemetery.

Honorary pallbearers were Sam Thomas, Sr., Rulo Roberts, Ray Christian, George Sylvester, Levern James, Charles Heumier, Clarence Patton, J. P. Watson and Lawrence Crofutt. Casket bearers were Bud Hoblit, Tod Pate, Bill Hoblit, George Atchison, Mike Chard and Ollie Seaman.

Earle Harley Hales was born April 8, 1892, at Crawford. In 1914 he homesteaded in the eastern part of Niobrara County. Later he served with the U. S. Army during World War I.

August 2, 1918, he married Mary Lelia Finley at Chadron. Three daughters and one son were born to this marriage. They made their home on the homestead in the Whitman community until 1944 when they moved to Lusk where he was employed for 20 years at the C. and H. Refinery. He was caretaker of the Niobrara County Fairgrounds for a number of years.

His wife died Feb. 20, 1945, after a lingering illness and he kept up the family home and reared his two smaller daughters to womanhood.

On July 21, 1954, he married Addie F. Wolff, at Chadron and they continued to make their home in Lusk until her death on March 24, 1971.

Survivors include a son Ernest Hales, Lusk, three daughters, Mrs. Ed (Ida) Doane, Casper, Mrs. Hugo (Martha) Lenz, Wheatland and Mrs. Lee (Mary) James, Lusk, two stepdaughters Mrs. Herman (Inez) Thayer, Lusk and Mrs. Charles (Mabel) Thayer, Harrison, 25 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial to the Niobrara County Memorial Hospital Heart Fund has been established.

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