James Buck Hale, 76, of Elizabethtown, passed away Monday, Feb. 24, 2014, at his home. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carroll and Mary Elizabeth (Smith) Deckard; and a great-granddaughter, Reese Marie Coffey. He is survived by his wife, Corene Hale of Elizabethtown; a daughter, Debra Hale Johnson of Elizabethtown; a granddaughter, Jennifer Downs Gilbert of Louisville; a grandson, Samuel Coffey of Leitchfield; two great-grandchildren, Ryder Coffey and Reagan Coffey, both of Leitchfield; seven adopted grandchildren; four adopted great-grandchildren; and three adopted great-great-grandchildren.The funeral is at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27, at Manakee Funeral Home in Elizabethtown with the Rev. Don Sexton officiating. Burial follows in Hardin Memorial Park.Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and continues from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Hosparus or the Ronald McDonald House.