Mary Sears Herring

Mary Sears Herring, age 92, of West passed away late Tuesday morning, August 14, 2007 at West Rest Haven. Funeral services will be held 11:00 Saturday at Aderhold Funeral Home with Dr. John Crowder officiating. Military Graveside Rites will be held 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco. Family and friends will receive visitors from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Mary Sears was born July 10, 1915, the daughter of Edwin and Mary (Gallagher) Herring in Waco. She attended schools in Waco and Hubbard and was a 1932 graduate of Hubbard High School. She received a B.B.A. from Baylor University in 1936 and her B.S. in Business Education in 1952. She served her country with the United States Navy during World War II with the 7th Naval District with the Army Information Center in Miami, Florida (Gulf Sea Frontier), she plotted movement of ships and aircraft while on active duty from 1943 to 1945. Mary Sears then entered the Naval Reserves and served for 20 years until 1965. She taught Business Education in many schools including Moody, Big Lake, Victoria, Big Spring, Galveston, Hearne, and Graham before beginning her career with West High School in 1968. Mary Sears retired from the West I.S.D. in 1975. She was a very faithful and active member of the First Baptist Church in West where she helped with Sunday School and the Women's Mission Union. She was also a former member of the Texas State Teachers Association, Reserve Officers Association, West Community Hospital Auxiliary, and the Texas Business Educators Association. She is preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Evelyn Herring who passed away on September 8, 1996. Survivors include several cousins including Nancy Redding, Lewis Herring and Keith Herring, all of Houston; her Church Family at First Baptist West; and many other relatives and friends. Pallbearers are Larry Payne, Jimmy Bilbo, Lewis Herring, Keith Herring and James Howell. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of West Building Fund.