Noah might not have been “the last righteous man,” but he was indeed righteous. His spirit was commanding. His tenderness made sweeter by contrast. He was good and noble and generous and loyal. He had a wit that few were quick enough to fully appreciate. He was playful, irreverent and bawdy. He had the curiosity, wonder and recklessness of a child; taking things apart, losing their pieces, and trying to put them back together again. He was rarely prompt, but always worth the wait.
He was a proud combat veteran of the U.S. Army, serving four combat deployments, three with Special Operations as an Engineer overseeing civil humanitarian projects in Southeast Asia, building roads, schools, bridges and wells and bringing medical/veterinarian/dental care to many people who had never seen a doctor before. He also served a tour in Iraq where he sustained his disabling injuries. He revered his army buddies and the brotherhood they enjoyed.
He was an artist, a craftsman and a consummate hustler. His life surely fodder for urban legends. He delighted in found objects – everything from an old plated silver tea set to a crumbling WW II leather holster. He always saw the potential in them. The magic of rebirth – shined up, repurposed, and gifted or traded away.
He loved his girls Avery and Maddie and his son Gabriel. He had so much he wanted to teach them – about birds and trees and becoming more alive by exploring the majesty of our world.
Noah Edmondson Hales was born on June 25, 1974 in Albany, New York. Noah died on July 24, 2020 in Owosso, Michigan. He is survived by his mother and father, Julie Hales-Smith and Larry (Gargi) Hales; his stepfather, Michael Smith; his sisters Asia (Hales) Ciaravino and Sage Hales-Ho; his son, Gabriel Hales; and his wife Rachelle Hales and two daughters, Avery and Madelyn Hales.
Noah, we will miss you. We love you madly.
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