Wayne Randolph Hall remembered for story telling, gardening, wood working
COLUMBIA— Wayne Randolph Hall of Hallsville died Sept. 18, 2011. He was 69.
Mr. Hall was born Sept. 22, 1941, in Maggie Valley, N.C., to James Randolph and Ida Belle Hall.
Mr. Hall lived on the Soco Mountain in Maggie Valley, N.C., during his childhood.
Mr. Hall moved to Missouri 31 years ago, and Columbia was the first place he stayed, his daughter Randee Hall-Jonessaid. His daughter fondly called him “the best family handyman.”
Jones' stepsister, Wendy Lohse, said Mr. Hall loved fishing, hunting, playing guitar and especially listening to country music.
“His favorite country singers are George Jones and Jim Reeves,” she said.
Jones said her father loved to garden and took pride in keeping his yard pleasant.
“He loves to watch NASCAR races as well,” she said.
“My dad is a woodsman, and he is proud of his wood-working,” Jones said. “He hand-made anything and everything that you could think of.”
Jones said Mr. Hall once made a huge entertainment center for his wife, Wanda Hall.
“He also made me a wishing well for my wedding — it was a masterpiece,” Jones said.
Jones said she remembered Mr. Hall couldn’t help crying before walking her down the aisle on her wedding day. “He didn’t want to let me go; he said I’d always be his little girl,” she said. “I know he never left me.”
Jones said her father told her many crazy stories about his childhood.
“My dad once told me that he rode the washing machine down the mountain,” she said. “He’s a mischievous and spontaneous man.”
Lohse said he loved spending time with his family and was a great provider. “He always made sure everybody was well taken care of; there was nothing he wouldn’t do for his family,” she said.
Lohse said one of her fond memories with her father was the first time he brought her to the mountain in North Carolina. It was too cold when they got to the top, so she ended up wearing her father's jacket.
Lohse’s fiance, Elmer Cockrell, said Mr. Hall was a very loving man. “He was my best friend.”
Mr. Hall held multiple jobs throughout his life. He was an "over-the-road" truck driver for 30 years, an appliance repairman and the director of maintenance of Hallsville School. After retirement, he worked at Mulnix Industries, a hardwood furniture company in Hallsville.
“Nobody can pack like Wayne, and his co-workers will know that it’s true,” Lohse said.
Jones said when her grandmother passed away, Mr. Hall would call his father every morning to make sure he was doing OK.
She said everyone in the family was surprised by Mr. Hall’s death. “He seemed so full of life the night before he passed away, it's so unreal,” she said. “I'm just glad that I made it in time to see him.”
Mr. Hall is survived by his wife of 27 years, Wanda Hall; six children, Randee Hall-Jones and her husband, Rusty, Wendy Lohse and her fiance, Elmer, of Hallsville; Greg Black and his wife, Keri, of Harrisburg; Ricky Hall and his wife, Vicky, James Hall and his wife, Kelli, Pamela Turner and her husband, Randy, all of North Carolina; father, James Hall; sister, Sara Bryant; an adopted sister, Barbara Tyson, all of North Carolina; sister-in-law, Martha Griggs and Danny; brother-in-law, Mike Black; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one niece; and three nephews.
His mother, Ida Belle Hall; brother, William Gentry; grandson, Josh Turner; and brother-in-law, Bobby Bryant died earlier.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorial donations can be made to the Wayne Hall Memorial Fund c/o Wanda Hall, 1217 Business Loop 70 W., Columbia, MO 65202.
