Obituary for Abner Earl Herron
Earl Herron
Earl Herron, former Altus business and educator, passed away July 24,1993 at Jackson County Memorial Hospital. He was born in Greer County near Mangum on April 20, 1914. Herron graduated from Vinson High School, attended Oklahoma A and M College on a track scholarship, and received his Bachelor's Degree from Central State College in 1938. He then coached and taught at Reydon, Frederick and Tipton before being inducted into the Army in 1941. Most of his military service during World War II was in Alaska. When he was discharged in 1945, he returned to Mangum and went into the retail furniture business with R.L. Garrett.
In 1948 he married Frances Smith at Mangum. The couple moved to Altus in 1951 where Herron was co-owner of Garrett-Heron Furniture Company and stores in Sayer, and Lovington, New Mexico. The partners later built the Friendship Inn and Friendship Apartments which Herron managed for four years. In 1967, he again took over Herron Furniture which he managed until 1974. At one time he taught at Altus High School and was director of the five-county area Neighborhood Youth Corps. In 1975 he became state coordinator for Migrant Education and supervised the program recognized as the top Migrant Program in the nation. He retired in 1985.
Always interested in sports, he sponsored Little League and baseball teams for many years and was actively involved in many community youth programs. Herron was an avid supporter of Jackson County 4H and Home Demonstration Clubs and was chosen an honorary county, state and national 4H Club Member.
He was member of the Altus Kiwanis Club and served as president in 1957. He was instrumental in building Kiwanis Safety Town, and the Herrons financed the Red Schoolhouse which is used for Classroom instruction.
Herron was a member of the City Council for two years. He was a member and served as president of the Jackson County Child welfare Board for five years. He served a term as president of United Way and was a member and on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce for many years. He was president of the Retail Merchants Association and was currently on the Board of Directors for Mt. Park Water Conservatory. He was a deacon of the First Presbyterian Church.
Earl is survived by his wife, Frances, two daughters, Jane Bolton, Atlanta, Georgia, Cecilia Nicholas and husband Ron Wagoner, a son James (Bimbo) Herron, Guymon and four grandchildren, Keith, Kathy and Holly. He is also survived by a sister, Larerna Shoults, Fresno, California; and two brothers, J.B. Herron, Clovis, California, Jack Herron, Norman, and a very large extended family of nieces, nephews and friends.
Services for Herron will be Tuesday July 27, 1993 at 11:00am at the Lowell-Tims Chapel with Rev. Grant Groves and Sonny Tims officiating. Interment will follow in the Altus Cemetery under the direction of Lowell-Tims Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends at the Lowell-Tims Funeral Home Monday evening form 6 pm until 8:30pm.
The family requests memorial be made to the Altus Presbyterian Church, the Museum of the Western Prairie, or Kiwanis Safety Town in honor of Earl Herron.
07/27/1993
11:00 AM
Funeral
Lowell-Tims Chapel
Altus
OK
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Earl Herron, former Altus business and educator, passed away July 24,1993 at Jackson County Memorial Hospital. He was born in Greer County near Mangum on April 20, 1914. Herron graduated from Vinson High School, attended Oklahoma A and M College on a track scholarship, and received his Bachelor's Degree from Central State College in 1938. He then coached and taught at Reydon, Frederick and Tipton before being inducted into the Army in 1941. Most of his military service during World War II was in Alaska. When he was discharged in 1945, he returned to Mangum and went into the retail furniture business with R.L. Garrett.
In 1948 he married Frances Smith at Mangum. The couple moved to Altus in 1951 where Herron was co-owner of Garrett-Heron Furniture Company and stores in Sayer, and Lovington, New Mexico. The partners later built the Friendship Inn and Friendship Apartments which Herron managed for four years. In 1967, he again took over Herron Furniture which he managed until 1974. At one time he taught at Altus High School and was director of the five-county area Neighborhood Youth Corps. In 1975 he became state coordinator for Migrant Education and supervised the program recognized as the top Migrant Program in the nation. He retired in 1985.
Always interested in sports, he sponsored Little League and baseball teams for many years and was actively involved in many community youth programs. Herron was an avid supporter of Jackson County 4H and Home Demonstration Clubs and was chosen an honorary county, state and national 4H Club Member.
He was member of the Altus Kiwanis Club and served as president in 1957. He was instrumental in building Kiwanis Safety Town, and the Herrons financed the Red Schoolhouse which is used for Classroom instruction.
Herron was a member of the City Council for two years. He was a member and served as president of the Jackson County Child welfare Board for five years. He served a term as president of United Way and was a member and on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce for many years. He was president of the Retail Merchants Association and was currently on the Board of Directors for Mt. Park Water Conservatory. He was a deacon of the First Presbyterian Church.
Earl is survived by his wife, Frances, two daughters, Jane Bolton, Atlanta, Georgia, Cecilia Nicholas and husband Ron Wagoner, a son James (Bimbo) Herron, Guymon and four grandchildren, Keith, Kathy and Holly. He is also survived by a sister, Larerna Shoults, Fresno, California; and two brothers, J.B. Herron, Clovis, California, Jack Herron, Norman, and a very large extended family of nieces, nephews and friends.
Services for Herron will be Tuesday July 27, 1993 at 11:00am at the Lowell-Tims Chapel with Rev. Grant Groves and Sonny Tims officiating. Interment will follow in the Altus Cemetery under the direction of Lowell-Tims Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends at the Lowell-Tims Funeral Home Monday evening form 6 pm until 8:30pm.
The family requests memorial be made to the Altus Presbyterian Church, the Museum of the Western Prairie, or Kiwanis Safety Town in honor of Earl Herron.
07/27/1993
11:00 AM
Funeral
Lowell-Tims Chapel
Altus
OK
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