Alfred L. Hales
God must have needed a fishing buddy as he called Al to heaven on Dec. 15, 2020.
Al was born in Yakima, Wash., in 1930, to Alfred C. and Helen Hales. He moved to Spokane, where he married his first wife, Carol. They had two children: Sheila and Greg.
Al worked various construction jobs and also for Kaiser Aluminum before joining the Spokane Police force in 1961. He started as a patrolman and retired in 1989 as a homicide detective.
Years after Carol's passing, Al married Martha Anderson. After retirement, they loved pulling their fifth wheel all around the Northwest, mainly on the Olympic Peninsula. When they weren’t traveling they lived in the fifth wheel in a beautiful RV park in Chimacum, Wash. They loved fishing, clamming, crabbing and all the activities the area offered. Al loved fishing and spent many a day on the water with his step-sons and daughters in the area. For many years they would snowbird during the winter months, making lots of new friends wherever they went.
After Martha’s passing, Al continued to live in Chimacum and snowbird until his health would just not allow it. For the last two years he has lived a happy life in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, with his son, Greg. Al enjoyed happy hour every evening and dessert after every meal. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was loved by anyone that ever met him. He was such a kind-hearted, generous person and always thinking of others.
Al was preceded in death by his first wife, Carol; second wife, Martha; daughter, Sheila and brother, Ed Hales. He is survived by his son, Greg Hales and Sheila’s daughter, Kalindi Hales. Al had a number of step-children that he was proud to include as family: George and Cathy Anderson, Rob and Sue Anderson, Maria and Randy Woller, Joan and Gregg Widgren, Ruth and Bob Schmidt and Andrea and Michael Wright.
Heritage Funeral Home will be handling Al’s arrangements. Due to the COVID-19 issue, we will not be holding a service at this time. Al would not want to put others at risk. You can go onto the Heritage website and leave a tribute or message for the family if you would like.
