Ray Wayne Hale

Wayne Hale passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his friends and caregivers on December 14, 2025, in Beaumont, Texas.

Ray Wayne Hale was born on August 24, 1950, to Dixie Marie Dickson Hale and Raymond Warren Hale in Raymondville, Texas. The family moved back to Beaumont when his father was hired by Mobil Refinery. Wayne grew up in the South Park community of Beaumont where he attended elementary, junior high and graduated from high school (the Greenies) in 1968. He spent 2 years at attending Lamar University while working as a photo delivery man, moving slot machines and pool tables, and working at a convenience store.

As an art major at Lamar, he met Martha while hanging out with mutual friends. When she began working at Kay's Composition as a typesetter, she told Wayne they were looking for a commercial artist and he applied for the job. Not only did he get the job, he and Martha got to know each other and fell in love. As time went by, he joined Vance-Mathews Advertising as an artist, then a production director. About that time, Martha decided to start a graphic design business in 1976 with a friend. Wayne helped find an office in the Mildred Building and he and Kirk Broyles applied for a small loan to buy equipment. In 1978, the friend left and Wayne came to work full time at Alphabet Soup, Inc.

Wayne and Martha married on May 25, 1978. They bought their first house and saved their money. Alphabet Soup flourished and hired several employees. In 1987 they welcomed their beautiful daughter, Hellen Marie. As soon as she was 2 years old the fun began: spending weekends at the Hale beach cabin, camping at the Guadalupe, fishing, water skiing and playing games at Wildwood, visiting best friends in Beaver, Arkansas and snow skiing at Crested Butte, Lake Tahoe and Breckenridge, Colorado.

Wayne enjoyed many hobbies including building and flying RC airplanes, playing bagpipes and guitars, traveling to Alaska, Ireland, Scotland, Poland, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. He loved music most of all. Wayne's sense of humor and storytelling could liven up any get together. He never met a stranger and has many treasured friends all across the world.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Martha Hale of Beaumont, sisters, Lana Cowles of Blanco, Jennifer Freeman and her husband, Randy, of Lumberton, and daughter, Hellen Hale and her wife, Alicia, of Dallas.

Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Dixie; his nephew, Landon Cowles; and his brother-in-law, Larry Cowles.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alpha-1 Foundation, 3300 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Coral Gables, Florida 33134.

Cremation arrangements for Mr. Hale were handled through Broussard's Crematorium under the direction of Broussard's, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont.