Archie Lowell Hale (1934-2022) Buffalo, OK

Archie Lowell Hale, son of Ivan and Alice (LaMunyon) Hale, was born November 20, 1934, in Buffalo, Oklahoma, at the family home which, at the time, was a small living quarters located at the rear of a feed store the family owned. He died December 12, 2022, at his home in Walters, Oklahoma, where his family had loved and cared for him.

Archie was named for two of his uncles and grew up near both sets of grandparents, several aunts and uncles and a host of cousins in a boisterous, close-knit family. He attended school at Buffalo until enrolling at New Mexico Military Institute his sophomore year. While there he was a member of the football team, gymnastic team, and rodeo club and formed friendships that lasted a lifetime.

He enlisted in the United States Army in 1955, served two years and, again, found friends and stories that he loved to share.

After discharge he enrolled at Southwestern Oklahoma State University at Weatherford, OK. He met and married Pometa Graft there April 3, 1958. Their daughter, Cindy, was born while they were in Weatherford. After graduation Archie attended Gupta Jones - Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science.

He operated a funeral service in Buffalo from 1963 until 1977, as well as Ashland, Kansas. During that time Bill, Ben, and Anne D were born and Michael Myatt became a part of the family.

The family moved to Hinton, where Bill and Ben completed public school, Cindy enrolled at Southwestern and, later, Archie returned to Southwestern for his master’s degree. During this time, Archie became a friend of Bill W and was supported by friends in El Reno who were such valuable assets.

In 1986, the family moved to the Bray community east of Marlow. Archie and Pometa contracted with Juvenile Services to provide residential therapeutic services for delinquent adolescents. The ‘Hale Kids’ became a community/school project with both unbelievable rewards and heartaches. Archie was proud of his horses and cattle, enjoyed Anne D’s school activities, and became a part of the Bray Store coffee group that was very similar to the long table of knowledge at Harper’s Cafe in Buffalo. He loved taking the grandkids to see the alligator that grew bigger each year and often migrated from lake to lake. When his Uncle Ottis came to visit, they would harness a team of Hafflingers and go for buggy rides. In return for getting to drive at a very young age, the grandkids would listen to his stories.

As health problems developed, it was only natural to seek centralized access to all family and they moved to Walters. Of course, Archie found a coffee group that loved to hear and tell wild tales. Debbie (Smith) Herron joined the family as a contributing and loving member. During the last months Archie wasn’t able to engage in many of his former activities but family members united to make him the center of their attention and love. He cherished his drives with Bill and the visits by his kids, grandkids, and great-grands.

Survivors include his wife, Pometa Hale; his children and their families: Cindy (Hale) Nunley, Nicole (Nunley) and Cale James, Case, Baker, and Grady, Josh Nunley; Bill and Audra Hale, Chisholm, and Jayla Hale, Bentlee; Ben and Aimee Hale, Peyton and Ashley Hale, Levi, Colt, and Blakeley, Luke, Seth, Jake, and Abi Hale; Anne D (Hale) and Miles Dabovich, Dawson, and Stockton; Debbie (Smith) and Tracey Herron and family; Michael Myatt and family; brother, Waldo Hale; brother-in-law, C.B. and Tricia Graft; sister-in-law, Jean (Dykes-Graft) and Glenn Britton; three nieces; six nephews; and a beloved Aunt Irene.

Viewing will be 2-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, with the family present from 5-7 p.m. at Whitt Funeral Home. A graveside service is planned for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, at High Point Cemetery in Buffalo, OK, under the direction of Whitt Funeral Home, Duncan.

Online condolences can be made at www.whittfh.com.