John Hale

John Kenneth Hale, 79, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2005, at the Lutheran Home.

He was born Aug. 10, 1926, in Cape Girardeau, son of Jesse and Ella Taylor Hale. He and Nancy Unger were married in 1955 in Jackson.

Mr. Hale began a banking careeer at the Bank of Chaffee in 1947. In 1960, he joined Cape State Bank (became Mercantile Bank in 1973 and is now US Bank). He retired in 1990 as chairman of the board, president and CEO of Mercantile Bank and Trust Co. after 43 years in the banking business.

He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, its Men's Club and Board of Trustees. He was a life member of Southeast Missouri Hospital Board of Trustees, Southeast Missouri State University Foundation, Old McKendree Board of Directors, Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, Cape Scottish Rite Club, American Legion Post 63, and Harold O. Grauel Masonic Lodge 672 AF&AM.

Mr. Hale was a former member of Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, Cape Girardeau Public Library Foundation, Regional Commerce and Growth Association, and Breakfast Optimist Club.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Robert C. Hale; a daughter, Sally A. Morris; a granddaughter, Brooke Victoria Morris, all of Cape Girardeau; and a niece and a nephew.

He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant daughter, three brothers and two sisters.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home from 10 a.m. to service time Saturday.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Scott Moon officiating. Private family burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society, 106 Farrar Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701, or to Grace United Methodist Church, Broadway and Caruthers, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701.