Donald Ray Bales of Midland passed away Thursday, August 14, 2014, at the age of 63 after a lengthy battle with cancer. The family will receive friends at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home Sunday, August 17, 2014 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Funeral services have been scheduled for 2:00 pm, Monday, August 18, 2014 at Mid-Cities Community Church. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 am, Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at Resthaven Memorial Park in Lubbock.He was born on September 12, 1950 in Lubbock, Texas to Marshall Floyd and Susie James Bales. After graduating from Denver City High School, he attended South Plains College and earned an associate’s degree. He then went to work for the Soil Conservation Service in Cochran County. While living in Morton, Texas, he met the love of his life, Clara Richards. It was a quick courtship and they married November 30, 1972. They faithfully lived out their vows for over 41 years. Together they raised three sons, Darryl, Mark, and Marshall.While working for Cities Services, they lived in Morton and Kansas. He then moved back to Denver City, Texas where he worked for Shell, Altura, and Oxy. In 2001, he transferred to Midland for Oxy Permian where he did regulatory work until medical disability caused him to retire after thirty years of service.Donald was strongly devoted to The Lord, his wife, and his family. He loved being married and spending time with his family. One of his passions was traveling with Clara to Alaska.He was preceded in death by his Dad, Marshall Floyd Bales, and his niece Kimberly Bales.Donald is survived by his “lovely bride”, Clara, their three sons and their spouses, Darryl and Cherie Bales, Mark and Tammy Bales, Marshall and Belinda Bales, and six grandkids, Coleman Bales, Katelyn Bales, Conner Bales, Tyler Bales, Tatum Bales, and Macy Bales, all of Midland.He is also survived by his mom, Susie Bales of Midland; and his brothers and their spouses, Morris and Ellen Bales of Fischer, Texas, and Earl and Loretta Bales of Neosho, Missouri; his sisters and their spouses, Sue Ann and Tony Locke of Midland, Texas, Sharon and Ken Campbell of Big Lake, Texas, and Carol and Stephen Bradley of Calgary, Canada. In addition, he is survived by his brother-in-law and his spouse, Gerald and Jaquita Richards of Brownfield, Texas and his sister-in-law, Verna Whittington of West Fork, Arkansas. In addition, he was called uncle by numerous nieces and nephews.Pallbearers will be nephews Michael Bradley, Brandon Locke, Matt Bales, Chantz Bales, Jason Richards, Brice Campbell, Brit Campbell, and Brian Bradley.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Midland, PO Box 2621, Midland, Texas 79702.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com,
