Fred Ray Hales passed away peacefully on March 17, 2015 in Salt Lake City, UT surrounded by his family. Ed Plum, as he was often known, will long be remembered for his charming wit, quiet manner, and kind ways. Fred made us smile.
Fred was born July 17, 1937 in Delta Utah, the son of Iman and Ferris (Ashman) Hales. He graduated from East High, received his JD from the University of Utah, and was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha. Fred married his angel, Jane Watson, September 12, 1960 in the LDS Salt Lake Temple.
Fred began his career as a systems analyst with IBM in Salt Lake, continuing in Helena, MT, followed by twenty-five years in Endicott, NY. He and Jane raised their six children in their Vestal, NY home: Joseph Watson (Janet Hilton), Jill Ellen (Craig Tingey), Christopher Kimball (Sharryl Ludlow), Sally Jane (Joshua Johnson), Holly Edythe (Greggory DeVore), and Stephen Iman (Mary Wilson). They have been blessed with thirty grandchildren and three great grandchildren who loved to play Crokinole, get a Whirly-Burly, or hear a cock-n-bull story from Grandad.
Uncle Phred made life fun for everyone from Cub Scouts to Single Adults to missionaries, all of whom he and Jane served with enthusiasm and loving care. In all his church service, and in his life, Fred found creative ways to reach out to help the one. He served as a faithful home teacher, a bishop, and a stake presidency counselor, regularly driving an hour each way to weekly stake meetings. Together he and Jane served at the Fullerton, CA Institute of Religion in 2004 and the Mormon Trail Center at Historic Winter Quarters in 2011.
He is survived by his wife Jane, their children, and his sister Sandra (John Knowlton). He was preceded in death by his sister Johnette (Stephen Fox) and his parents.
Friends are invited to celebrate Fred's life at a viewing on Sunday, March 22 6:00-8:00 p.m., at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City, UT, or Monday, March 23 10:00-11:30 a.m. at Winder 7th Ward, 4350 South 1100 East, Salt Lake City, UT. Funeral services will be held Monday at noon at Winder 7th Ward. Burial will be in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the LDS Humanitarian Fund, or your local public library.
