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Pretty Little Liars alum Lucy Hale announced the death of her father Preston on Monday with a sweet tribute.
The lifelong farmer 'passed away suddenly last Friday evening at age 68' after a 37-year career working corporate jobs with Dunavant Cotton and Shoaf Farms - according to his obituary.
'My dad was mind-numbingly funny, sensitive and deeply kind,' the 37-year-old actress-singer - who boasts 35.7 million social media followers - wrote on Instagram.
'He adored his family, my step sisters, all his grandbabies, his dogs (and mine), his lifelong friends, and my stepmom, Stacy - the love of his life.'
Hale continued: 'A true Southern man with a genuine soul and a love for fishing, hunting, golfing and farming. I will miss buying him Bass Pro Shop gift cards.'
Preston is survived by the F*** Marry Kill actress, his daughter Maggie Clarke Lewis, nine grandchildren and three stepdaughters through his wife of 18 years, Stacy Hale.
Pretty Little Liars alum Lucy Hale announced the death of her father Preston on Monday with a sweet tribute
The lifelong farmer 'passed away suddenly last Friday evening at age 68' after a 37-year career working corporate jobs with Dunavant Cotton and Shoaf Farms - according to his obituary
'And he unconditionally loved me and my sister,' Hale wrote.
'He never judged. Our relationship took on many forms over the years, and 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 Memphis-born brunette went on to thank Preston - nicknamed 'P. Daddy' - for 'orchestrating' having Maggie in town visiting her when they 'got the call.'
'I can't imagine receiving that call alone or walking through these first surreal days by myself. I got to be with my sister. He knew I needed her. Thank you, Daddy, for that parting gift,' Hale wrote.
'My spirituality and my beliefs are bringing me comfort right now. I know my dad isn't gone - he's simply taken a different form. 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.'
The homeschooled millennial concluded: 'You are a legend, Daddy. Thank you for the lessons, the memories, the unconditional love, and for being the exact father I needed in this life. I'll love you in this lifetime and all the others. Watch over us. Rest easy.'
Preston's funeral is scheduled for this Wednesday afternoon in his Milan, Tennessee hometown.
Hale received condolence comments from Pretty Little Liars creator I. Marlene King and her former castmates Ashley Benson, Janel Parrish, Nicholas Gonzalez and Annabeth Gish.
'My dad was mind-numbingly funny, sensitive and deeply kind,' the 37-year-old actress-singer wrote on Instagram. 'He adored his family, my step sisters, all his grandbabies, his dogs (and mine), his lifelong friends, and my stepmom, Stacy - the love of his life'
Hale continued: 'A true Southern man with a genuine soul and a love for fishing, hunting, golfing and farming. I will miss buying him Bass Pro Shop gift cards'
Preston is survived by the F*** Marry Kill actress, his daughter Maggie Clarke Lewis, nine grandchildren and three stepdaughters through his wife of 18 years, Stacy Hale
Hale went on to thank Preston - nicknamed 'P. Daddy' - for 'orchestrating' having Maggie in town visiting her when they 'got the call'
The Memphis-born brunette wrote: 'I can't imagine receiving that call alone or walking through these first surreal days by myself. I got to be with my sister. He knew I needed her. Thank you, Daddy, for that parting gift'
Preston's funeral is scheduled for this Wednesday afternoon in his Milan, Tennessee hometown
Hale received condolence comments from Pretty Little Liars creator I. Marlene King and her former castmates Ashley Benson, Janel Parrish, Nicholas Gonzalez and Annabeth Gish
The UN World Food Programme ambassador also received public support from Demi Lovato, Lily Collins, Rachel Bilson, Meghan Trainor, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Alyssa Milano, Lea Thompson and Lance Bass
Hale's family tragedy came two months after she wrapped her role in Lina Roessler's canine-driven rom-com Princess about a man's (Adam Demos) relationship-sabotaging bulldog (pictured May 7)
The UN World Food Programme ambassador also received public support from Demi Lovato, Lily Collins, Brenda Song, Sarah Hyland, Rachel Bilson, Meghan Trainor, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Alyssa Milano, Kaitlyn Dever, Lea Thompson, Katherine Langford, Mindy Cohn, Patti Stanger, Lance Bass and Sasha Farber.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Hale's rep for comment, but did not immediately hear back.
The 5ft2in stunner's family tragedy came two months after she wrapped her role in Lina Roessler's canine-driven rom-com Princess about a man's (Adam Demos) relationship-sabotaging bulldog.
Hale's other upcoming projects include David Slade's horror film Legacy, Liz Friedlander's drama series Dead Letters for Netflix, Peter Hutchings' romantic fantasy Vision Board and David Lipper's holiday rom-com The Twelve Dates of Christmas.
English (US) ·