Douglas Dean Hale, 72, died Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at OU Health Medical Center in Oklahoma City.

He was born Sept. 1, 1953 to Paul and Loree (Harnden) Hale. 

He graduated from Liberal High School in 1971 and went on to further his education at Seward County Community College, where he played as pitcher for the first Seward County Baseball Team and Fort Hays State University, where he earned his bachelor’s in science.

Throughout his working years, he was dedicated to the cattle industry, cowboying for area feedlots.

He was a substitute teacher for USD480 in his later years.

Survivors include his mother; son, J.D. Hale; brothers, Dave Hale and wife, Connie, and Jeff Hale and wife, Jana; sister, Ronda Hale; three grandchildren: Jaeda Villa, Juliette Villa, and Julie Villa; and great-grandchild, Xaelani.

He was preceded in death by his father; and brother, Den Harrel.

• Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026 at Trinity Faith Church at 2264 S. Kansas Avenue in Liberal, with Sonja Wilkens presiding.

Memorials are suggested to The Seward County Baseball Team Foundation, in care of Hornung Family Funeral Home, 1212 W. 2nd Street, Liberal, KS 67901.

Condolences may be left at www.hornungfuneralhome.com.