Mary Hale

Mrs. Mary Richey Hale, age 85, passed away on August 4, 2020 at Silver Bluff Village near Canton, NC.

Mary demonstrated a lifelong commitment to the community of faith - and particularly its youngest members.  She was a native of Paris, Texas, the second daughter of the late Byron and Clara Woodby Richey. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband Joe, passed away in 2016;  From a young age, she was active in the Methodist church, particularly with childcare, and she aspired to be an educator.

She is an alumna of Paris Junior College and graduated from the North Texas State Teachers’ College in 1957.  Upon graduation, she spent a year teaching in a U.S. Air Force school, in Morocco, then returned to Texas to teach in an elementary school in Odessa.

Mary was serving as Director of Christian Education at First Methodist Church in Odessa when she met Reverend Joe Hale, a minister serving on the General Board of Evangelism based in Nashville, Tennessee.  In 1964, they were married, beginning a shared life in ministries of Christian education and evangelism, as well as an exemplary marriage of 52 years.

As Joe’s wife, Mary truly became a worldwide ambassador for the Faith; Joe travelled and preached extensively, first as Director of Ecumenical Evangelism for the United Methodist Church, and subsequently as the General Secretary of the World Methodist Council.  Mary frequently travelled with him, visiting dozens of countries on six continents, and acting as hostess for numerous dignitaries visiting the Council’s office in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina.

While she acted globally, she also acted locally, and was extensively active as a volunteer in the Church, first at McKendree United Methodist in Nashville and later at First United Methodist Church in Waynesville.  She returned to the Church professionally in 1981, becoming  her local church’s Director of Christian Education, a capacity in which she would serve until 1991.  She was extremely popular with children, and her vacation Bible schools, particularly the Bibletimes Marketplace, and remembered fondly by many long-time members of the church and community.

In 1994, Mary suffered an aneurysm which left her wheelchair-bound for the remainder of her life, but her enthusiasm for the Church and its children remained undimmed; still she served, often volunteering in the church office and as a Sunday School teacher.  Perhaps more important, though, is the number of people she touched through her cheerful demeanor, and the inspirational example of her and Joe’s ongoing relationship, determining that she remain as deeply involved in the community as her changed circumstances would allow.

Mary is survived by her brothers, Jerry Richey and Tim White, of Paris, Texas, and by her son, Jeffrey Hale, of Raleigh, NC, who will be ever grateful that she was such an important part of his life

There will be a private service of interment on August 11, 2020 at Maple Grove United Methodist Church.  A worship service celebrating her life and ministry will be announced later, as circumstances permit, at First United Methodist Church in Waynesville, North Carolina with Dr. George Thompson, of Waynesville, officiating.

The care of Mrs. Hale has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes.