Dale Hayden

Dale Hayden was born December 6, 1940, in Lamar, CO. After losing his dad at the age of 4, his mother Nola (Nana) moved to Lubbock and raised Dale along with Mae Glenn, Nola’s good friend, and became a big part of the Hayden family.

Dale attended Dupree, O.L. Slaton, and graduated from Lubbock High School in 1959, where he was a Varsity cheerleader and played various sports. This is where he met Karen Shahan. They were married in 1962 until 2016 when she passed away from dementia. Dale attended Texas Tech University after high school and was an active member of Phi Delta Theta. Dale started his career at Holt’s Sporting Goods and in 1972 opened The Sport Haus until its closing in 1989, then worked at Cardinals Sports Center on 50th Street.

Dale, Karen, Mark, and Michelle loved trips to Canton, TX in the early years to pick up antiques and such for decorating the store. He sold snowskiing, backpacking, tennis, windsurfing, skateboarding, hot and trendy clothing lines, and other popular items. He discovered them on trips to California (Hackey Sacks, Jams Shorts, Quiksilver, and Hobie) to name a few. In the late 80’s Dale opened Hawaii Ice Company on Broadway having lots of friends and family work at this popular place.

Everyone in town loved coming to the Sport Haus for excellent customer service, exchanging stories, and the smell of pinon and ski wax!

Granddaughter Chelsey was born in 1989 and was a true blessing to Dale. Dale and Karen loved taking trips to the Houston Zoo, Disneyland, Disneyworld, and Hawaii, and spending time at the family cabin in Ruidoso.

Dale was a true outdoor enthusiast and loved to ski, rollerblade, play tennis, windsurf, backpack, hike, and especially golf. Dale skied approximately 20 different ski resorts and skied until he was 81 years old. Dale loved to play golf with the Rawls Senior Group and enjoyed the Medal Team and Quarter games immensely, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Dale and his son Mark had a great relationship. Over the years they played thousands of rounds of golf, attended lots of Texas Tech athletic events, skied hundreds of days together, especially at Taos, and attended over 500 concerts, and numerous travel adventures.

Dale and Mark attended Southcrest Church services and always tried to sit in the same seats. Dale developed lifelong friends throughout his life and maintained those relationships. Everyone loved Dale and Dale loved all of his friends.

Dale will be missed by all, but know that he is completely healed and in the arms of Jesus, his Lord and Savior.

Dale is preceded in death by his wife, Karen, father, Art, Mother Nola, Mae Glenn, and mother-in-law Vera Shahan.

Dale is survived by his son Mark Hayden, daughter Michelle and her husband Craig Bingham, Brit and Brooke Lockaby, Cade Bingham, second daughter Chelsey and her husband Trey Horkey, London Horkey, Jude Horkey, and Rhodes Horkey.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Southcrest Baptist Church, Meals on Wheels, or a charity of your choice.

The family would like to offer sincere thanks to all of the Tanglewood Village staff for the care that they gave to Dad.

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