Kay Hales

Redmond, Utah - Calvin Kay Hales was born in Axtell, Sanpete County, Utah 02 February 1935, to Charles Kenneth and Una Bernice Neilsen Hales. He died 20 January, 2021 in Monroe, Sevier County, Utah. He married Jenett Christensen 23 September 1955, in the Manti LDS Temple. She died 11 June 2000. Together they raised their five children in Redmond, Sevier, Utah: Calvin Kirk (Becky). Karen (Joseph Nielsen), Karl (Lisa), Collin (Karen), Rex (Patty); and have 21 grandchildren and 20 great-children. Preceded in death by his wife, brother Boyd, and great-grandbaby Jenett Rawlins. Kay graduated from North Sevier High School in 1953. He was Drum Major for the marching band 3 years and was able to twirl a baton through his fingers. He was a good tenor and sang in many programs and choirs, and would sing in the car.(We kids didn’t know about car radios until we were teenagers.) He said, “His High School dreams, if he had any were, to get out of school and stay home.” Kay promised Jenett that he would go to work every day and bring home every penny he could make, if she would take care of spending it and making it reach for the things they needed. He worked at gas stations, the Sigurd plant, R&R Furniture, Redmond Town, Knight Coal Mine, SUFCO, and took care of his small farm and sheep. He said, “It takes a good job to support a small farm.” Kay said his interest, joy, and work was to raise a good family and he is proud of all of them. He left a legacy of honesty, hard work, and love of family. He called his grandchildren “Sweetheart” and so he became Grandpa Sweetheart to them. Kay served in 2 bishoprics and on the Stake High Council, but his favorite church calling was when he and Jenett served an LDS Mission to Vanuatu from July 1998 to January 2000. They referred to it as “the greatest challenge and also the greatest blessing of our lives, after our own family.” Kay stayed in touch with dear friends in Vanuatu and was able to return 5 times, each time taking one of his kids as a companion. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Redmond 1st LDS Ward Missionary Fund. Graveside services will be held on Friday, January 29, 2021 at 12 Noon in the Redmond Cemetery. Friends may call for viewing at the Springer Turner Funeral Home in Salina, Friday morning from 10:30 to 11:30 prior to the services. Because of COVID-19 mandates, all attendees must wear a mask and adhere to social distancing guidelines. Live streaming of the services can be found at www.springerturner.com under Kay’s obituary. Burial will be in the Redmond Cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield and Salina, Utah.