Milas H. Hale

Judge Milas H. Hale II passed peacefully on April 10, 2026, surrounded by his family. Born in 1935 to Loy and Mary Mable Hale, he grew up on the family farm in Yell County, Arkansas, with his beloved sister and brothers. He graduated from Belleville High School in 1953 as Valedictorian. During high school, he served in the Army National Guard and later participated in ROTC. He attended college and then law school at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where he earned his Juris Doctorate in 1959. He served in the U.S. Army on active duty for six months and was honorably discharged as a second lieutenant.

Following his military service, Milas was a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Pulaski County and an Assistant Attorney General of Arkansas. He later served as City Attorney for Sherwood. In 1970, Milas created the Sherwood Municipal Court and served as its first judge for 26 years. He deliberated a case as special judge of the Arkansas Supreme Court and was a chairman of the Arkansas State Claims Commission. He also served as past president of the Pulaski County Bar Association and past president of the Municipal Judges Association.

Milas loved practicing law. Many of his partners became great friends. His final years of practice were with longtime partner, Virgil Young, who remained a close confidant.

Milas enjoyed politics. While president of the Arkansas Young Democrats, he went to the White House and met President John F. Kennedy, which only deepened his love for politics. He served as a legislative aid when asked by Governor Bill Clinton to help push the governor’s education package in the Arkansas Legislature and did not lose a single vote.

Milas met his late wife Shirley Hefner of New Orleans on a double date. Together they had two sons, Milas H. “Butch” Hale III (Kath) and Jay L. Hale (Lori), both of Sherwood. He is also survived by two granddaughters, Jenna (Steve) and Hannah, both of North Little Rock, and great-grandson Sawyer. Milas and his family faced an insurmountable loss in 2011 when Shirley passed away from cancer. Milas was fortunate later to find love again with longtime family friend Barbara Coker. They married and resided in North Little Rock. Milas was a proud resident of Pulaski County since 1960.

Milas cherished his granddaughters, and they loved him with all their hearts. He was their Grandat while Shirley was their Gran. Their earliest memories of him include countless games of hide-and-seek, playing ball at Devon Park, and screaming with joy as he drove his Oldsmobile across a ford in the creek on the family farm in Belleville. The bigger the splash, the better! He knew all the best “tickle belly” hills in Yell County and would drive as fast as he could over them ensuring giggles and shouts of, “Again!” from the backseat. Christmas was a magical time for the family, and Grandad would only slightly protest when his granddaughters begged him for a flocked tree. During their teenage years, both granddaughters spent summers working at the family law firm. Milas could often be heard whistling Deck the Halls as he came to and from his office, even in the middle of July.

Milas had a profound impact on his family, friends, and community. Those who were lucky enough to know him can attest to the kind, gentle, and compassionate man he was. Words cannot adequately describe the legacy he leaves behind. In his final years, Milas and Barbara shared a deep, unwavering commitment to one another. Demonstrating remarkable strength, Barbara remained by his side until the very end, holding his hand and speaking comforting words to him as his spirit passed on. Milas’s family adore and treasure Barbara and are forever grateful for her love and dedication to him.

Attorney and longtime family friend, Robert Cortinez, said it best, “He was a legend in law, but what I remember most is that he was kind and compassionate to all who had the honor of meeting him. Greenhorn or grizzled attorney, young or old clients, wayward kids off the streets, he was a gentleman to all.”

Per Milas’s wishes, a small private family service and burial will be held. The family wishes to thank the medical team at CHI St. Vincent North in Sherwood for their excellent care. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Friendly Chapel Church of the Nazarene at 118 South Pine Street, North Little Rock, AR 72114 or First Baptist Church at 811 S.A. Jones Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72114. 

Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St., North Little Rock, AR  72114.  501-758-1170.