2nd Victim In Deadly Pawnee County Fire Remembered As Devoted Husband, Father

Dan Bewley, News On 6

TERLTON, Oklahoma -- A Pawnee County family is remembering a man who was devoted to his family and loved to fly.

Stanley Hale was the second person to die as a result of the massive wildfire in Terlton earlier this month. Family members say he was a man full of passion.

"He loved me very much. He protected me all the time...everything was about me as far as he was concerned," said Stanley's wife Brenda Hale.

Brenda Hale has more than three decades of memories with her husband Stanley Hale.

Hale died on August 16th, 2011, more than a week after he hit his head while trying to evacuate the Pawnee County wildfire.

His wife says moving to this next stage of life, after 35 years of marriage, has been nearly impossible.

"Only with my kids, I couldn't have made it without my kids. I said I'd be curled up in a ball if it weren't for my children," she said.

Stan Hale was 62-years-old when he died. He's a former member of the Oklahoma National Guard and had two joys in life, family and flying.

"He loved to fly, he loved his kids...sometimes they didn't get along so great but that's all he ever talked about at home were his kids at grand kids," Brenda Hale said.

The family can't say enough good things about the North 48 Volunteer Fire Department. All week long firefighters kept checking on Mr. Hale while he was in the hospital, even serving as honorary pallbearers for his funeral.

"They've been amazing. They've been there every step of the way," said Stanley Hale's son Stan Hale.

The support came at the same time the North 48 was fighting a wildfire that destroyed more than 100 buildings, including 46 homes, and killed another man aside from Mr. Hale.

Investigators are still trying to determine how it started and they believe an arsonist may be involved.

The family says their focus now is remembering a man who was devoted to his wife and family and just taking care of each other.

"It's been very difficult but we're coping, we're trying to move things along and just proceed as best we can right now,"Stan Hale said.

Stanley Hale was retired from Burlington Northern and his children are worried about how their mother will support herself.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Brenda Hale for the Stan Hale Memorial Fund. Checks should be payable to Brenda Hale and mailed to BancFirst, 301 E. 2nd St, Sand Springs, OK 74063, 918.245.2261. Please include a note stating your gift is in memory of Stan Hale.

More:
8/15/2011 Related Story: Fire Chiefs Review Response To Pawnee County Wildfire
8/15/2011 Related Story: Terlton Fire Claims Second Victim
08/11/2011 Related Story: Terlton Man Found Dead Among Wildfire Ruins
8/8/2011 Related Story: Evacuation Order Lifted For Terlton Residents
8/8/2011 Related Story: Pawnee County Wildfire Flares Back Up
08/07/2011 Related Story: At Least A Dozen Homes, Structures Destroyed In Pawnee County Wildfire