John Mark Hale, aged 69, passed away on April 2 at 6:45 p.m.,  following an unexpected medical emergency. Born to William E Hale and Violet P (Walker) Hale in Burns, John was one of twelve children.

John is survived by his sisters, Ruth Williams, Betty Schreck, and Linda Pifer; and his brothers, Dave Hale, Steve Hale, Joe Hale, and Bob Hale; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother, Fred Hale; and sisters, Earlene Durant, Grace Ness, and Eldora Parslow.

John graduated from Burns High School in 1973, where he was actively involved in choir, the language club, and the science club. He pursued higher education at Eastern Oregon University and Oregon State University, working at the mycorrhizae lab in Corvallis, and later at the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service. He enjoyed looking for and finding edible plants, especially mushrooms.  John was an ordained minister and gained certifications in various fields of interest to him. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge with others, especially children with whom he often engaged in discussions about science and dinosaurs.

Beyond his professional endeavors, John had a deep passion for travel, exploring destinations like Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Mexico, and Kenya. He loved music and art, especially drawing, and was known for his skill in capturing scenes from his travels.  John’s curiosity extended to cultures and languages, and he enjoyed learning phrases from languages like Hebrew and Gaelic.  An avid reader, John particularly enjoyed the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and enjoyed all of the Lord of the Rings books. 

John’s memory and huge laugh will be cherished by those who knew him.  He was a familiar site in Burns as he walked most places he went, wearing a florescent vest and carrying a huge walking stick…and he did love a good potluck! A memorial service to celebrate John’s life will be announced at a later date.