Former BSN publisher dies

By TONY FYFFE

BSN Editor

PAINTSVILLE — A “celebration of life” will be held at a later date for former Big Sandy News Publisher Marjie Hale, who died Thursday, Dec. 10, after a lengthy illness.

Hale literally grew up in the newspaper business. Her father, the late Allan “Bud” Perry, was a former owner, publisher and editor of The Paintsville Herald, where she worked part-time during high school doing labels, answering the phone and doing page layout.

After graduating from Paintsville High School in 1969, Hale attended Prestonsburg Community College and then worked at American Standard and Citizens National Bank. She was then assistant manager for 11 years at Chandler’s Clothing Store in Paintsville, which was owned by her mother, Peggy Perry, who later sold the business and retired.

Hale returned to The Paintsville Herald in 1984, working in ad composition and layout and as an ad representative. She left the Herald in 1992 to become general manager of The Big Sandy News, which was also owned at the time by the Perry family. She was promoted to publisher of the BSN in 1999 and became general manager of The Tri-Rivers Advertiser in 2000.

When the BSN and the Martin County Sun consolidated and became the regional BSN in May 2001, with her brother, Scott Perry, as publisher and editor, Hale remained general manager and was also named associate publisher, overseeing the company’s fiscal management.

Hale retired from the BSN a few years ago.

Hale was also a former member of the Paintsville Recreation Commission and the Paintsville Tourism Commission and the Paintsville Junior Women’s Club.

An avid golfer, Hale also served four years as president of the Paintsville Ladies Golf Association.

The Paintsville Golf Course paid tribute to her on its Facebook page Sunday, saying she and her family were “prominent members for decades.”

“Over the last six years she made invaluable contributions to the course by helping to manage the Proshop operations,” the post says. “Marjie was one of the experts on the history and tradition of the course and we could always go to her for insight on how to preserve and honor that history. Marjie will be terribly missed but she will always be remembered for all her contributions to Paintsville Country Club.”

Hale is survived by her husband, Randy Hale, a retired BSN ad representative; two sons, Mitchell Hale of Virginia and Scott “Shoes” Hale of Paintsville; a sister, Mary Beth Haney of Frankfort; and five grandchildren.

A celebration of life is planned for next spring or summer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her memory to the Paintsville Golf Course for restoration and beautification projects.