Hal Wayne Ishmael, age 74, an Atoka, OK resident, was born on Sunday, July 23, 1939, to Melvin and Carmen Gertrude (Roddy) Ishmael,, in Atoka County, OK. Hal passed away on Thursday, September 5, 2013 at his home in Atoka, OK. He attended school at East Tellico in North Atoka County, Stringtown, Atoka Jr. High, and Atoka High School where he graduated in 1957. Hal's career with Southwestern Bell Telephone began in February 1960 in Tulsa, OK. From there his construction lineman crew moved to Enid and Atoka. In 1967, he made Construction Foreman and was sent to Hugo, then Duncan, and back to Tulsa before agreeing to the first management position in Atoka after two young men each tried the country life for only a few months and wanted to go back to Tulsa. Hal said " I'll go! That's my hometown." When asked if serious, he was told to sign an agreement that he would expect no further advancement in the company and take a cut in pay and he could make the move. His title changed from Wire Chief to Installation/Repairman Manager during the next twenty years but the job was basically the same. He retired in December 31, 1991. He started working for Brown's Funeral Service in 1998 till present as a Funeral Director Assistant. He married Ruth Davis on July 11, 1959 at the Church of Christ in Coalgate, OK. Hal was a member of South Atoka Church of Christ. He served as an Elder, Deacon, Bible Class Teacher, and Song Leader. He was a member of the Lions Club and worked with Little League Ball. Hal's love of the outdoors kept him busy with gardening, fishing, deer hunting, turkey hunting, and camping out at the newly-built cabin dubbed "the lil Hilton" up in the Kiamichi Mountains east of Stringtown. His best memories have been made with his children and grandchildren accompanying him on many ventures. They drove many miles without eating just to partake in Granddad's homemade biscuits and gravy or pancakes and Griffin's waffle syrup. ****************************************************************************** DATE OF SERVICES: 2:00 PM Saturday, September 7th, 2013 PLACE OF SERVICES: Brown's Funeral Chapel OFFICIATING: Bro. Scott Young & Bro. Bill King INTERMENT: Coalgate Cemetery, Coalgate, Oklahoma CASKETBEARERS: Tyler Young, Tanner Young, Kyle Ishmael, Brandon Ishmael, Ryan Ishmael, Brian Ishmael, Trey Stephens, Trenton Stephens, HONORARY CASKETBEARERS: John Carrell, Ray Carroll, Jerry Cartwright, John Darst, Marion Hyatt, Floyd Keeler, Bill King, Richard Lillard, Randy Mashburn, Johnny Self CONDOLENCES MAY BE SENT TO THE FAMILY BY EMAIL TO: BROWNS@ATOKA.NET. PLEASE REFERENCE THE NAME OF THE DECEASED IN YOUR CORRESPONDENCE Family Night Friday 6~8 SERVICES UNDER THE DIRECTION OF BROWN'S FUNERAL SERVICE - ATOKA, OK