Fish Springs early settler, storyteller dies

Fish Springs lost a great friend and neighbor on Thanksgiving Day as Don Hale died at the age of 78. He was born in Texas but has lived here for the past 27 years and he can tell more stories than we can remember. He used to hunt in the nearby mountains and that's how he found our beautiful Fish Springs Valley. Don had a reputation of being the best storyteller in town and he kept both kids and grownups laughing. He was one of those guys who could do anything, a real handyman. He was also very mechanical and a real asset to our volunteer fire department. He was very clever and invented lots of different gadgets that helped him in his work.

Don met Pat at their 50th high school reunion. They both attended Santa Maria High School in California but they really didn't know each other way back then. But Pat was attracted to him at the reunion because he was not only good looking, but he also gave her "that grin." Only problem was that he brought an old girlfriend to the reunion. He started talking to Pat and asked if he could come and visit her in California sometime. A year later he showed up. Then he sweet-talked Pat to come visit him in Fish Springs and she ended up staying here for these past nine years. They have loved each other and been together ever since.

After graduation from high school in 1947, Don went to work for the railroads. He moved to Fish Springs back in 1979 and worked for "Ma Bell" for 32 years. He retired in 1981 but still attended many great reunions. Don kept busy during his retirement years with exciting things, like fishing and hunting with his son Jesse (a.k.a. Casey) and nephew Bill. He loved his family dearly and also Pat's family. Don also had race horses and mules, did some gold mining out in the Pine Nuts with Chuck Jones, and had lots of exciting rides around the back country. Did I mention that he also built some houses on the side?

Jesse loved spending time with his father and they did so much together. He really enjoyed panning for gold out in the Pine Nut Mountains. Don was a great silversmith and he's made lots of silver belt buckles, rings and other jewelry and it looks like Jesse has inherited some of his father's talent and creativity.

And then there was the fire department. Firefighter Don Hale was one of the original members of the Fish Springs Volunteer Fire Department and he spent many days and nights in training and repairing our old fire trucks. I had the privilege to fight both structure and wildland fires alongside Don and his son Captain Jesse Hale. They have always been a great asset to our fire department.

Three years ago there was a big party to celebrate Don Hale's 75th birthday. An old Fish Springs friend, Ray Jones, gave him an antique derby hat and it was the exact same kind that Don had on in a picture of himself when he was younger. Oh, how he loved that special hat. Sandy, Don's step-daughter, said that Don liked to drink his favorite scotch and talk with friends and family late into the night about how to solve all the problems of the world. She said he was a good man, a fair man, a man who really touched her life. And she really appreciates Pat being here taking care of Don while he was so ill.

Regarding his father, Jesse said, "It was beyond an honor and a great privilege to be his son." Don was the father of two children, grandfather of five children and great-grandfather of one child. Don Hale will never be forgotten by all his family and many, many friends. There will be a memorial for him 3 p.m. Saturday at the Fish Springs fire station.

n Linda Monohan can be reached at 782-5802.