1928
Heber
2014
Heber Lee Hales Jr
July 7, 1928 — February 7, 2014
LOGAN – Heber Lee Hales Jr. passed away on Friday February 7, 2014 as a result of Multiple Medical Problems
Lee was born on July 7, 1928, in Logan. He was the 3rd of 8 children of Heber Lee and Lais Vernon Hales.
Lee attended the public schools in Logan, graduating from Logan High in 1946. He was active in all sports while in high school. He joined the army in August of 1946 and served with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After his military service he spent the next 2 summers fighting fires in the Salmon National Forest. He then worked summers on a large dry farm in the Gray’s Lake area north of Soda Springs, Idaho. Matriculating at Utah State in 1949, he met and married the love of his life Barbara McGregor on December 31, 1951. He always said the smartest thing he ever did was to marry Barbara. This marriage was later solemnized in the Logan Temple. They spent 58 very happy years together. Barbara was killed on August 31, 2009, in a tragic car-pedestrian accident.
Lee graduated from Utah State in 1953 with a major in political science and a minor in economics. He was also a member of the USU tennis team and the SAE Fraternity. Upon graduation Lee took a job in the accounting department at Kennecott Copper in Salt Lake City. He later attended law school at the University of Utah, graduating in 1957. He obtained a clerkship position with the Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court, Roger I. McDonough. After finishing the clerkship, he took a position with California Bank as a trust officer in their Los Angeles office. Lee took and passed the California State Bar in 1959. The smog and crowded conditions in the Los Angeles area convinced Lee to move back to Utah. In November 1959 he secured a position with Thiokol Corporation. He remained with Thiokol for 30 years, retiring on April 1, 1990.
Lee determined that working for a defense contractor like Thiokol would be a short time experience. His love of the Logan area and his desire to stay in Logan to raise his family, however, made this his final career move. He started investing in real estate in Utah and Idaho, an activity that kept him busy until the turn of the century when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Already a type 2 diabetic, he decided to liquidate his real estate holdings after this new diagnosis and help his wife Barbara in the business of buying and selling good books to wanting parents at near cost, without a profit motive. Barbara wanted to get good, wholesome books into as many homes as possible. This venture resulted in many miles traveled to book stores from Washington State to San Diego and points in between. Upon Barbara’s death, Lee’s daughter Tracine took over the book business with Lee’s support until his passing.
Lee was active in the LDS Church, holding several positions during his lifetime. His testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel was strong. He felt, as others do, that the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus Christ was the greatest single event to happen on this earth. His way is the only way man may be saved. He conquered death, so all could live again.
Lee and Barbara were strong supporters of Utah State University and the Big Blue Club. They established an annual scholarship in their name in the Education Department and were honored members of the Old Main Society. They also offered an annual scholarship through the Logan Schools Foundation to a deserving Logan High graduate that intended to attend USU.
Lee is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Barbara, a sister Imogen H. (Don) Wilkinson, and a brother Dr. Weston Vernon (Eva Dee) Hales. He is survived by 4 sisters and a brother: Frances H. (Grant) Andersen of Fair Oaks, CA.; Marjorie H. (Jarrett) Anderson of Glendale, CA.; Aldyth Ann H. (Dee) Stalder of Whitney, Idaho; Dorothy Jane H. (Don) Mayhew of Bothell, WA; and Clinton D. (Carol) Hales of Torrance, CA. Lee had 4 children: Brad (Colleen), Brian (Laura), Tracine Parkinson (Robert), and Lezlee Monroe (John). He is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
Interment will be in the Logan Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that contributions be made to the LDS Church’s Perpetual Education Fund.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday February 15, 2014 at 11:00am at the Lundstrom Park 2nd Ward Chapel, 1260 North 1600 East. Friends may call at the ward chapel on Saturday morning from 9:00am till 10:30am. Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery. Condolences and messages of sympathy may be extended to the family online by visiting www.allenmortuaries.net
Lee was born on July 7, 1928, in Logan. He was the 3rd of 8 children of Heber Lee and Lais Vernon Hales.
Lee attended the public schools in Logan, graduating from Logan High in 1946. He was active in all sports while in high school. He joined the army in August of 1946 and served with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After his military service he spent the next 2 summers fighting fires in the Salmon National Forest. He then worked summers on a large dry farm in the Gray’s Lake area north of Soda Springs, Idaho. Matriculating at Utah State in 1949, he met and married the love of his life Barbara McGregor on December 31, 1951. He always said the smartest thing he ever did was to marry Barbara. This marriage was later solemnized in the Logan Temple. They spent 58 very happy years together. Barbara was killed on August 31, 2009, in a tragic car-pedestrian accident.
Lee graduated from Utah State in 1953 with a major in political science and a minor in economics. He was also a member of the USU tennis team and the SAE Fraternity. Upon graduation Lee took a job in the accounting department at Kennecott Copper in Salt Lake City. He later attended law school at the University of Utah, graduating in 1957. He obtained a clerkship position with the Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court, Roger I. McDonough. After finishing the clerkship, he took a position with California Bank as a trust officer in their Los Angeles office. Lee took and passed the California State Bar in 1959. The smog and crowded conditions in the Los Angeles area convinced Lee to move back to Utah. In November 1959 he secured a position with Thiokol Corporation. He remained with Thiokol for 30 years, retiring on April 1, 1990.
Lee determined that working for a defense contractor like Thiokol would be a short time experience. His love of the Logan area and his desire to stay in Logan to raise his family, however, made this his final career move. He started investing in real estate in Utah and Idaho, an activity that kept him busy until the turn of the century when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Already a type 2 diabetic, he decided to liquidate his real estate holdings after this new diagnosis and help his wife Barbara in the business of buying and selling good books to wanting parents at near cost, without a profit motive. Barbara wanted to get good, wholesome books into as many homes as possible. This venture resulted in many miles traveled to book stores from Washington State to San Diego and points in between. Upon Barbara’s death, Lee’s daughter Tracine took over the book business with Lee’s support until his passing.
Lee was active in the LDS Church, holding several positions during his lifetime. His testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel was strong. He felt, as others do, that the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus Christ was the greatest single event to happen on this earth. His way is the only way man may be saved. He conquered death, so all could live again.
Lee and Barbara were strong supporters of Utah State University and the Big Blue Club. They established an annual scholarship in their name in the Education Department and were honored members of the Old Main Society. They also offered an annual scholarship through the Logan Schools Foundation to a deserving Logan High graduate that intended to attend USU.
Lee is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Barbara, a sister Imogen H. (Don) Wilkinson, and a brother Dr. Weston Vernon (Eva Dee) Hales. He is survived by 4 sisters and a brother: Frances H. (Grant) Andersen of Fair Oaks, CA.; Marjorie H. (Jarrett) Anderson of Glendale, CA.; Aldyth Ann H. (Dee) Stalder of Whitney, Idaho; Dorothy Jane H. (Don) Mayhew of Bothell, WA; and Clinton D. (Carol) Hales of Torrance, CA. Lee had 4 children: Brad (Colleen), Brian (Laura), Tracine Parkinson (Robert), and Lezlee Monroe (John). He is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
Interment will be in the Logan Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that contributions be made to the LDS Church’s Perpetual Education Fund.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday February 15, 2014 at 11:00am at the Lundstrom Park 2nd Ward Chapel, 1260 North 1600 East. Friends may call at the ward chapel on Saturday morning from 9:00am till 10:30am. Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery. Condolences and messages of sympathy may be extended to the family online by visiting www.allenmortuaries.net
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