Sherman, Texas -- It is with great sadness that the family of Stanley Hale announces his passing on February 26, 2023, at the age of 84.

Stanley was a lifelong resident of Sherman.  He was born on January 18, 1939, at Wilson N. Jones Hospital.  He attended Fairview Elementary School and is a graduate of Sherman High School and the University of Texas in Austin, TX.

Stanley’s career allowed him to travel extensively throughout the United States.  His family business began as a two-person enterprise.  After completing his college education, he returned to Sherman to expand the size of the business.  His success enabled Hale Manufacturing to become the largest manufacturer of horse and stock trailers in the United States.  He built assembly plants and created sales outlets from coast to coast.  He enjoyed his career.  He successfully appeared before the Senate Finance Committee in Washington D.C. to testify against a 10% excise tax on trailers.

He served as director of the Sherman Area of Commerce and was a member of the Texas Economic Development Committee that traveled to Los Angeles and New York to recruit new industries to this area.  He was awarded a lifetime membership by the North Texas Chapter of the Texas Association of Business for making initial contact with major corporations that moved to Sherman, including Oscar Mayer and Folgers.

His weekends were filled with Ranger baseball games and days of boating at Lake Texoma with family and friends.  He, with his wife and daughter, took many long work trips across the U.S., working in vacation time along the way.

He loved his family.  Everywhere he went someone knew him.  He had many lifelong friends.  He will be greatly missed by all.

Stanley will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 59 years, Grace Hale; his daughter, Catherine Pratt of Houston, TX; his grandchildren, Charles Fletcher Pratt of Aurora, CO, Shreve Stewart Pratt of Brooklyn, NY, and Alexis Grace Pratt of Houston, TX.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill Hale and Ruby Estep Hale of Sherman, and his siblings Joy Dawn Sims of Arlington, TX, Jerry Hale of Sherman, TX and Linda Simpson of Sherman, TX.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, March 4 at Waldo Funeral Chapel at 2:00 p.m.  Burial will follow at West Hill Cemetery.

The online register book can be signed at www.waldofuneralhome.com.