Published: December 29, 2008 10:07 pm         

Death of local Army soldier moves the community to bid him farewell

Editor’s note: This completes the News & Eagle’s review of the Top 10 news stories for 2008.



Army Staff Sgt. Chris Hake, 26, was killed along with three other soldiers March 23 in southern Baghdad when their vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.

Nearly 1,000 people, including Gov. Brad Henry, attended Hake’s funeral at Oklahoma Bible Academy, where he graduated in 2000.

Hake was assigned to 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, of Fort Stewart, Ga. He was a squad leader serving his second tour of duty in Iraq.

The state House and Senate approved resolutions honoring Hake.

The two-hour funeral was a combination honor for Hake for serving his country and comfort to his family, said the Rev. Garvie Schmidt, of Enid Mennonite Brethren Church.

Bagpipes played mournfully as the coffin was taken into and out of OBA, followed by an estimated 100 family members, including his wife, Kelli, and son, Gage, and his parents.

“Chris was committed to a cause, a mission. He gave 110 percent of himself to the cause that the people of Iraq and all people will be free,” Schmidt said.

He said one of Hake’s favorite sayings was” “God hasn’t given you more than you can bear.”

Hake is survived by his wife, Kelli and son, Gage; parents, Pete and Jill Hake of Enid, and Denice and Russell York of Sayre, sisters Shannon Hake of Enid and Keri Hake Cotton, of Midwest City, brothers Zachary and Skylar Hake of Enid, grandparents Martha Fuller of Oklahoma City, Sydney “Bilbo” and Frances Smith of Erick. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Dr. Orin Hake, and step-grandparents, Jim Fuller, June Crank and Donald Crank.

He was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.

Hake was the second Enid man killed in Iraq. Army Staff Sgt. Clint Storey was killed Aug. 4, 2006, and buried in Enid.