The ‘Pretty Little Liars’ actress shared her dad died on July 17, in a tribute for him on Instagram on Monday, July 20
Credit: Lucy Hale/Instagram
NEED TO KNOW
- Lucy Hale shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram on Monday, July 20 to her father, Preston Hale, after he passed away suddenly at age 68 on July 17
- Hale reflected on their deep bond and her father’s love for family and farming
- She expressed gratitude for her sister’s support, and shared that they were together in Los Angeles when they were notified of his death
Lucy Hale is mourning the loss of her father, Preston Hale.
Lucy, 37, shared in an Instagram post on Monday, July 20 that her “sweet daddy suddenly passed away” on July 17. He was 68. She did not share his cause of death.
In the post, Lucy selected a series of nostalgic photos and videos alongside her father. The post included glimpses into her family life alongside her dad over the years, including numerous sweet childhood photos and home videos. In other photos, Preston poses with his tractor, his dogs, and a humorous video depicts him trying a bottle of green juice.
“My dad was mind-numbingly funny, sensitive, and deeply kind,” Hale wrote in the caption. “He adored his family, all his grandbabies, his dogs (and mine), his lifelong friends, and my stepmom, Stacy—the love of his life.”
She added that her late father was “so proud of his career in farming and of his hometown” in Tennessee, describing him as a “true Southern man with a genuine soul and a love for fishing, hunting, golfing, and farming.”
“And he unconditionally loved me and my sister,” Hale continued, praising his ability to connect with people. “He never judged. Our relationship took on many forms over the years, but through it all was a deep soul bond. Our last conversation was beautiful. The last time I saw him was beautiful. Our last phone call was perfect.”
The Pretty Little Liars alum explained that her sister, Maggie, was visiting her in Los Angeles when they learned their father died.
“She was sitting no more than three feet away from me,” Hale wrote. “That’s something only God and my dad could have orchestrated. I can’t imagine receiving that call alone or walking through those first surreal days by myself. I got to be with my sister. He knew I needed her. Thank you, Daddy, for that parting gift.”
The Hating Game actress wrote that her “spirituality and my beliefs” are “bringing me so much comfort right now” amid his death.
“I know my dad isn’t gone—he’s simply taken a different form,” Hale wrote. “I’ll look for him everywhere, and I know without a doubt that he’ll stay with us. He’ll keep surprising us, sending little signs, and somehow still making us belly laugh.”
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She concluded the post by thanking her dad for “the lessons, the memories, the unconditional love, and for being the exact father I needed in this life.” She also asked for support for her stepmother Stacy, who her father was married to for 18 years, “as she navigates this incredibly difficult time.”
Credit: Lucy Hale/Instagram
An obituary for Preston says that he was raised by his grandparents in rural Tennessee, “whose guidance helped shape the kind and genuine man he became.”
“To know Preston was to know someone who made people feel welcome,” the obituary reads. “He never met a stranger and had a gift for making others laugh and feel at ease.”
Credit: Lucy Hale/Instagram
Preston is survived by his two daughters, three stepdaughters, nine grandchildren, and his wife.
Hale previously opened up to PEOPLE about her gratitude for her “humble” childhood, and how it inspired her to partner with the World Food Programme (WFP) as a Global UN Goodwill Ambassador in April.
“My dad is a farmer, my mom is a nurse, and I feel really passionate about women and children,” Hale told PEOPLE exclusively. “I’ve been an actress for going on two decades, and I love what I do, but I’ve always had a dream of helping in a bigger way.”
Hale said it was “incredible” watching her father make a living as a farmer.
“He’s always been in the cotton industry, but about 20 years ago, he became an actual farmer,” she explained. “Like, he’s on his tractor, he’s out there doing the manual labor. Seeing how much work goes into that all year for a good crop — it’s really incredible.”
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