Thomas Edward Hale, Sr.

Thomas Edward Hale was born on March 8, 1934 in Pruden, Tennessee and died August 5, 2015 in Trenton, Michigan. Tom moved to Michigan in 1953 to marry the love of his life Ira Ellen. He was a great athlete and was an all-state baseball and basketball player in high school, and played on several Trenton baseball and softball teams. He loved bowling and was an avid hunter. Tom traveled to Wyoming, Colorado, Tennessee, and Northern Michigan to hunt with his life-long friends and son Tom, Jr. He was preceded in death by his parents Vernie and Myrtle Hale, brothers Harry and James Austin, and infant sister Mona. Tom worked as a maintenance foreman at McLouth Steel for 40 years. Lifelong member and Deacon of Trenton Missionary Baptist Church and was a past Master of Hiram Lodge No. 110, Flat Rock. Beloved husband of Ira Ellen for 62 years. The greatest dad in the world to Margaret (John) Sickon, Peggy (Milo Gaynier) Law, and Thomas, Jr. (Amy Kuykendall). Dearest grandpa of John Michael (Bubba) Sickon, Betsy Sickon, John Thomas (J.T.) Hackett, Kevin Law, Jr., and Sydney Ellen Hale. Dear brother of Robert (Gail). Leaves behind special and dear friends: The Jack Longfellow family, Charlie Wright, members of Trenton Missionary Baptist Church, beloved Trenton 3rd street neighbors, and his cherished cat Alex. Visitation Friday 2-9 pm at the Ridge Chapel of the Martenson Family of Funeral Homes with a Masonic service at 7:30 pm. Funeral service Saturday 11 am at the funeral home. Interment at Ferndale Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Thomas may be made out to the Trenton Food Pantry or Trenton Missionary Baptist Church. Click on the multimedia tab to view Thomas' video tribute.