Bill Herrin

Funeral services for Billy Gene "Bill" Herrin, age 80, of Centerville were held at 2 PM on Friday, May 1, 2009 at the Walters Funeral Home Chapel in Centerville. Rev. Jim Bob Gunnels and Rev. Dean Ferguson officiated. Burial followed in the Centerville Cemetery.

"Bill" Herrin was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on September 11, 1928 to Oscar B. and Etta L. Herrin. Bill was a graduate of the University of Houston and met his wife Jo Lynn "Jodie" Smith there. Bill and Jodie lived in Houston 24 years where they raised their children and Bill established and ran his own business, "Gulf Coast Express", which was a freight company.

In 1974, they moved to Centerville where he fulfilled his dream of becoming a "cowboy". Bill was in the ranching business, establishing and running Herrin Ranch, from that time until just recently. Bill and Jodie also were very active members of Centerville First Baptist Church. Bill's parents also lived near him in Leon County as well as his sister and brother-in-law, Jackie and Troy Searcy. Bill Herrin was a very outgoing fellow with a wild sense of humor. Even though he has not been as active socially for several years, he will be missed by many people in Leon County who fondly remember him and Jodie. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, by his sister and bother-in-law and, last year, by his wife of 58 years, Jodie. Bill died Tuesday morning, April 28, 2009 in Bryan, Texas.

Surviving family includes his children: a son, Steve Herrin and his wife, Debra, of Spicewood, Texas and a daughter, Kelly Jo Blake and her husband, Kelly, of Austin, Texas as well as one granddaughter, Rachel Herrin.

Walters Funeral Home in Centerville was in charge of the arrangements.