Francis Duane Hale

Francis Duane Hale, 86, passed away peacefully on February 25, 2026. He was born on February 12, 1940, in Afton, Wyoming, to Vasco Lester Hale and Della Hoopes. He was the sixth of seven children. He had four older sisters and two brothers.

Duane loved growing up in Afton. He enjoyed collecting butterflies and insects, hunting, fishing, and being outdoors. He was in 4-H and won many first-place state fair ribbons. Duane graduated from Star Valley High in May 1959. He attended the University of Wyoming for a year. Duane was called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served faithfully in the Western States Mission.

After Duane was released from his full-time mission, he enrolled at Utah State University in Logan, Utah, where he met Kristine Carroll. They fell in love and were married in the Manti Utah Temple on March 27, 1964. They moved to Salt Lake City to raise their family.

Duane and Kristine had three daughters, Sandra, Sherry, and Shelly. Kristine passed away suddenly at age 26, leaving him alone with three little girls. He met Diann Benson and they married in the Salt Lake Temple on September 22, 1972. They had three boys, Michael, Justin, and Kevin. They were married for 42 years.

Duane loved to go to garage and estate sales and collected everything. He loved working in his store, The Elk Horn Gift Shop, selling collectables and antiques during the summer months.

Duane married a lifelong family friend, Sally Price Shorter, on August 7, 2021, at Duane’s home in Afton. She spent many months taking care of him and was a great blessing to our family.

Duane is survived by his wife, Sally Shorter; his six children, Sandra (Ron) Jensen, Sherry (Tom) Miggin, Shelly (Daniel) Batres, Michael (Tomoko) Hale, Justin (Rebecca) Hale, and Kevin Hale; 13 grandchildren, Kali, Angela, Stephanie, Tyler, Nicole, Lyndsi, Ryan, Josh, Caria, Gillian, Anna, Taggart, and Jack; 15 great-grandchildren; and his brother, Darrel (Paula) Hale. He was preceded in death by his parents, 5 siblings, his first wife Kristine, and his second wife Diann.

The family would like to thank Sally Shorter, Kandra, Allison, and the Symbii Hospice team for the wonderful care they provided to Duane.

A private family service will be held Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Interment at Elysian Burial Gardens. Care entrusted to Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary.