Lamar Ferrell Hale, 78, of Woodstock, born on February 29, 1940, passed away on January 10, 2019, after a short but valiant fight with cancer. During his tough battle with cancer Lamar continued to be a loving father and grandfather and his kindness endeared him to the nursing staff at Northside Hospital where they referred to him as the Silver Fox and all talked LSU football with him. These same endearing qualities made him beloved by all. A Celebration of Life service will be held Tuesday, January 15th at 11:00 at Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church with Rev. Jimmy Hood officiating.  Lunch will follow the service at Wesley Chapel. Visitation will be at the church from 10 to 11. A Graveside service, including full military honors and a military rifle team salute will be held at Georgia National Cemetery at 2:30. The Patriot Guard of the American Legion will escort Lamar to the National Cemetery.

Lamar was born and raised in Montgomery Louisiana.  He lived and worked on a cattle ranch in northern Louisiana as a teen to help his single mom.  This is how he became such a good horseman and started riding broncos in the rodeo.  He graduated high school from Atlanta High School in Atlanta Louisiana.  He was the first person in his family to attend college. Lamar got his undergraduate degree in Geography from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La.  He returned to LSU later in life and continued in the same field of study for his Masters Degree.
Lamar served 3 terms in Vietnam in the 173rd and 82nd Airborne Division. Lamar received commendation for attaining the highest firing score of 222 with the M-1 in his company, and the 7th highest score in the entire US Army training Center. Lamar excelled in his division as an expert marksman and often joked that he could shoot an acorn off the top of a coke bottle. Lamar was a good man and a good soldier, an extremely proud veteran and patriot who always valued God, country and family.

He loved spending time with his grandchildren watching LSU baseball and football, cheering them on at soccer games, giving them photography lessons, shooting guns, traveling, and having lunch with them. Lamar loved to travel, especially to the US National Parks, partly because of his love of photography.  He enjoyed photographing nature & all of our family events. He loved listening to country music, old hymns and talking politics with his family and friends. He also, loved to grill.  He cooked briskets & cajun specialties by request for family and friends.  He also, thought it was terrible for anyone to have dull knives, so took it upon himself to sharpen everyones knives for them, both family and friends. He was the best knife sharpener in the south and our knives will be forever dull.

He loved spending time with his neighbors and friends that he had made since moving to Georgia. He could often be found in Tanglewood North, where he was often illegally parked in the middle of the cul-de-sac, just because he could. If you didn't find him there, he was most likely at Gold's Gym, holding court. Lamar's life was always interesting and unique. From being born on a leap year, riding broncs in the rodeo, to his Army Ranger Sky Soldier days and work with the Army Corp of Engineers, to his retirement where he worked out five days a week with his friends at Golds Gym and Gold's Gals spin class.

Lamar was preceded in death by his mom, Willie Oleta Hale, sister, Mattie Sue Hale, granddaughter Katy Kitchen and dear friends Joe and Marcia Yadouga.  He loved his family more than anything, and leaves behind three daughters and their families: Shelly and Rob Slimp, Jenny and Michael Varisco, Melody and Brian Kitchen. Grandchildren, Wesley and Ava Slimp, Victoria Wheeler, Taylor, Victoria and Ethan Varisco, Kristen Farrell and husband Dillon, Blake, and Patrick Kitchen. Siblings and their families; Billie Hale, Ernestine Hale, Marcille McLaren, Ann Holland, and Nelwyn Hale.

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to Freedom Service Dogs of America at https://freedomservicedogs.org/donate Online  condolences maybe express at www.mariettafuneralhome.org Marietta Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements, 915 Piedmont Rd., Marietta, GA  30066, 770.422.1234.