Jimmy (Jimbo) Neil Hale's Obituary
Jimmy Neil Hale (Jimbo) was born August 18, 1941 in Denver, TN.
He and his family moved to the Berclair area of Memphis when he was 12 years old. He attended Kingsbury High school and began his music career playing the upright bass in a trio with Roy Cash (Johnny’s nephew). He maintained a job as a welder for many years but always kept close to music, playing in bands like the Solotones, Cloudy, Borderline and for over 20 years with Bill Black’s combo. He carried his love of the music business into his career as a teacher at Kingsbury Vocational School where he taught audio engineering for 26 years. In 2005, he retired and moved to Sugar Tree, TN near the Tennessee River. There he was active in the Volunteer Fire Department and continued playing music at the First Baptist Church and other local music venues. He was inducted to the Rock-a-billy Hall of fame in 2015.
He is survived by his wife, Pat Hale of Sugar Tree and son, Jeff Hale of Memphis. Brother, Dwight Hale (Peggy Joan) of Sugar Tree, niece, Lisa Purifoy (Mike) of Arlington and nephew, Don (Carmen) of Southaven, MS.
Jimbo is preceded in death by his Mother and Father, Mildred Mae and Olna Buff Hale, brother Larry Joe Hale, first wife Kay Frances Hale and son Timothy Neil Hale
The following will serve as pallbearers: Don Hale, Michael Thomas Hale, Andy Haynes, Johnathan Nichols, Mike Purifoy, Randy Stewart.
The following will serve as honorary pallbearers: Dylan Hale, Michael Thomas Hale Jr., Shane White.
The visitation will be held Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. with a funeral service at 2:30 p.m. all at the Fireside Chapel of Memorial Park Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.
The family is asking that any memorials be sent to: First Baptist Church Building Fund, 210 Tennessee Ave, Parsons, TN 38363.
Memorial park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN, 38119. (901) 767-8930
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