Jay D. Hale
Jay D. Hale, 81, passed away on Thursday, October 8, 2009, after a brief illness. He was born in Tucumcari, New Mexico, on May 3, 1928. Jay D. was the son of the late Barney Fisher Hale and Gracie Adell McCarty from Texas. As a child and a young man, Jay D. lived in Texas before making Litchfield, NH, his home.
In Texas, Jay worked on many ranches and farms. After moving to NH, he worked for the Colby Brothers’ Farm in Litchfield where he met his wife Candace C. Morrill.
In 1962, Mr. Hale purchased land and developed his own farm. The Naticook Farm prospered in Litchfield for 25 years. The produce raised on 125 acres of farmland was sold at his roadside farm stand and wholesaled to local markets, as well as to Boston and Maine.
Jay D. spent many winters with his wife at his home on Merritt Island, Florida. He enjoyed bowling, skiing, and golfing with family throughout his life. Jay also loved walking and spending time on the farm with his Dobermans.
Mr. Hale was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who was cherished by his family. He leaves his beloved wife of 60 years, Candace (Morrill) Hale. Members of his family include two daughters and sons-in-law, Pamela and Lee Lane, Heidi and Greg Miller, and a son, Jay A. Hale, all residents of Litchfield. Jay is survived by 5 grandchildren, Kristen Gore of Litchfield, Joshua Lane of Nashua, Melissa Abraham of Westport, CT, Ryan Lane and Seth Miller of Litchfield. Great-grandchildren are Brianna Gore of Litchfield and Madison and Nathan Lane of Nashua. He is also survived by a sister, Norma Fay MacDougall of Florida and a brother and sister-in-law, Fred B. and Barbara Hale of Hudson as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his parents, Jay was predeceased by a sister, Mattie Ellen Brister of Texas.
A service will be held at the Litchfield Community Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, October 13, 2009, at 1:00 PM with the burial following in the Hillcrest Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the church after burial for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association NH Office, One Bedford Farms Drive, Suite 105, Bedford, NH, 03110 or to the Humane Society For Greater Nashua, 24 Ferry Road, Nashua, NH, 03064. To send a condolence or for more information, please visit www.peabodyfuneralhome.com.
