Lois Annette Jenkins Hale

Annette Hale, our beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother who displayed such a sweet spirit, died peacefully on July 25, 2025. She was 88 years old.

Though there were struggles, Annette lived a very full and happy life. We will remember her gentleness, strength, good humor, hospitality and abiding faith.

Lois “Annette” Jenkins Hale was born to Willis Gale “Bill” and Myrtle “Ione” Jenkins in Boise, Idaho on October 13, 1936. Alongside their parents, she and her older sister, Gayle, were raised by their dear grandmother, Minnie Fewell Johnson Brown, known to them as “Mother Brown”.

Annette Jenkins graduated from East High School in Salt Lake City, Utah, then joined Gayle in Austin, Texas to attend business school. In a short time, Annette met the love of her life, Joe Hale, at the University Avenue Church of Christ. They fell in love and were married within three short months; a union that lasted 64 years. 

Joe was commissioned in the Supply Corp of the United States Navy, a career which took the family to many places over the years. The family moved to Saigon Vietnam in the early 1960s, where Annette worked at the American Embassy. From Saigon, Joe’s assignments took them to California to Michigan to Virginia and to Long Island, New York with family road trips and camping in between. With Joe’s retirement from the Navy they began a new path, first in Abilene, Texas, then Edmond, Oklahoma, and finally Dallas, Texas. 

Over many of those years Annette was a homemaker to Joe and their four girls. Along with her gentle love for children and babies, Annette’s interests were many. Both Joe and Annette loved music — symphony and jazz; and loved to sing — at church, at home and later in a community chorus. Annette sang beautiful harmonies in an alto voice. She became proficient in refinishing antique furniture, sewing and handcrafts, bowling and golf. She also loved to read novels, cookbooks and the daily paper. Annette was an excellent cook. Those who loved her will remember Sunday roasts, and banana bread, angel hair pasta and apple pies. She was an attentive and gracious host for any who came to their welcoming home, including temporary foster children at times, those who came to Joe and Annette’s weekly Bible study “The Rap”, in Springfield, Virginia, and houseguests from out of town. She was a good listener and influenced many people for good in her quiet way. In Edmond, Oklahoma where they settled for several years, Annette worked as an office assistant at Monte R. Lee Communication Engineers and later Funds for Learning. Later in life, Joe and Annette moved to Dallas, Texas to be closer to family.

Annette was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Joe Michael Hale, her sister Carol “Gayle” Jenkins Dillard, son-in-law Benjamin Edward Ecklar III, and great grandson Ryker James Self. She is survived by her four daughters, Marcee Rollandini and husband Tom of Emerald Isle, North Carolina, Michelle Hale and wife Meredith Canada of Galveston, Texas, Janaye Weldon and husband Brad of Plano, Texas, and Nicole Ecklar of Euless, Texas, her 10 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, Gayle’s husband, Max Dillard, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Annette and Joe were members of The Branch Church of Christ in Farmers Branch, Texas where Joe was a past Elder.

The family would like to thank the care team at Hope Springs Memory Care where Annette had such loving care and comfort in her last years. She is probably smiling, even now, when she hears your voice. We would also like to thank the hospice team at Three Oaks Hospice for their tender shepherding of her transition to glory.

Annette’s family will receive visitors beginning at 9:00 a.m., Thursday, July 31, 2025, followed by a 10:00 a.m. funeral service at Allen Family Funeral Options. We invite all who knew and loved Annette to join us to celebrate her life.

Annette will be laid to rest at the Dallas/Ft Worth National Cemetery.