John Hale

Thomas “John” Johnson Hale, Jr. was born on January 29, 1940 in Petaluma, California to Thomas and Violet (Anderson) Hale.  He was the oldest of 7 children and raised on a ranch in the foothills of Novato where he learned how to drive a tractor at the age of 7.  He attended Petaluma High School where he ran track and was in the F.F.A. Club.  He graduated in 1958, the last class from the original PHS brick school building.

At 19 he bought a dairy and chicken farm in Two Rock, west of Petaluma where he started milking 15 cows.  In 1963 he was drafted into the Army and served as a radio teletype operator in Fairbanks, Alaska.  He met and married Theresa “Terry” Smith in 1966 and they had 5 children.

John and Terry operated the dairy until 1987.  Afterward they raised a small herd of free range beef cows in the marshland of Novato. In addition, he ran a successful drop calf business lovingly referred to as the Slow Poke Calf Company.  The calf route was a twice weekly event for John and Terry as they made the rounds to the dairies throughout southern Sonoma and West Marin Counties.   John would catch up with the ranchers, share hunting stories and discuss the state of the dairy business all while navigating the ups and downs of calf prices.

When not picking up calves, John could be found on a tractor farming for his long-time friend and neighbor George McClelland.  No one could make straighter rows by site than John Hale and he wasn’t afraid to let George know when he needed a new set of plow blades.

He was a valued member of the community and served multiple board member responsibilities with the Two Rock Union School for nearly 40 years. He also coached, managed and volunteered as an umpire with American Little League Baseball for 10 years.

In his off time, John loved duck and deer hunting, trap shooting and rock-pick abalone fishing (even though he could not swim).

John is survived by his devoted wife of 53 years, his loving children Russell Hale, Patty Mykland (Jason), Bryan Hale, Michael Hale (Gina), Elizabeth Erickson (Josh). He has 7 grandchildren – Ryan, Joseph, William, Mason, Vivian, Waylon and Colbie.  He is also survived by his sister Elaine Singleton (Bob) and brothers Karl (Donna), Kenny (Julie), Donald (Denise), Dave (Debbie) and Albert (Jone) and many nieces and nephews.

He is loved and will be missed.

A visitation will be held on March 4 from 4 to 8 pm at Parent-Sorenson Mortuary, 850 Keokuk St., Petaluma, CA 94952.  Final resting place will be at Two Rock Valley Presbyterian Church in Petaluma. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Two Rock School Education Foundation, 5001 Spring Hill Road, Petaluma, CA 94952.