To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2nd Corinthians 5:8).
On November 7, 2025 Merry Lee Hess Hale, formerly of Tell City, IN was received into the eternal embrace of her Savior, Jesus Christ from her home in Owensboro, KY. She was born January 2, 1950 in Perry Co, IN. The second of six children of Doris Lee Smithheart Hess and Renus Martin Hess. Merry was a proud member of the Tell City High School class of 1968, after which she obtained a degree in bookkeeping and office administration from The Lockyear College of Business in 1971.
Merry retired from Hess Electric Inc. after 35 years, followed by becoming a devoted caregiver to many seniors.
She was an active member of Church of the Firstborn in Owensboro.
Sharing 46 years together, Merry was united in marriage to Darrell Bryan Hale February 24, 1979. Merry is the proud mother of two children who survive, son, Kristopher B. Hale (Morgan) of Rockport, IN and daughter, Emilee A. Sosh of Owensboro. Merry loved her role as “Maw” to her three granddaughters, Taylor and Annalee Sosh and Hadley Hale.
Also surviving are three brothers, Kenneth Hess (Austrid) of Ft Meyers, FL., Tom Hess (Joan), and Ed Hess and two sisters, Sue Bosler and Shelia Yelland all of Tell City.
Preceding her in death are grandmother, Loretta Smithheart; parents, Doris and Renus Hess; in-laws, McAtee (Junior) and Joanne Hale; and a dear friend, Janice Shwartz (Shwartzie).
The celebration of her entering into the eternal embrace of her Savior will be at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 13, 2025 at James H Davis Funeral Home and Crematory. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill Community Cemetery in Elba, KY. Visitation is from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday and again on Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service.