Laura Jane Herndon, 90, of McLean, Texas, was greeted at the doors of Heaven on Monday, August 5, 2024. Jane had been surrounded by, prayed for and encouraged by her family during her last days at home in McLean. We can celebrate her life today because of her salvation. Jane trusted Jesus Christ as her Savior and was baptized in the First Baptist Church of McLean as a young girl. We know that Jane loved her Lord, her family, her church and her community. She lived in McLean all of her life, contributing and serving in her church and the community that she loved so well.
Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 8, 2024, at One Way Church in McLean, Texas, with Thacker Haynes and Casey Carter officiating. Graveside will follow at the Hillcrest Cemetery in McLean.
Viewing will be held at the funeral home in McLean from 1 PM - 6 PM on Wednesday, August 7th with family receiving friends for visitation from 4 PM - 6PM.
Jane was born December 27, 1933, at her family home on a lease camp located between Lefors, Texas, and McLean, Texas, in Gray County. She was the youngest of the 11 children born to Willie (Tibbets) and Benjamin Franklin Williams. Jane’s growing up years were mostly spent tagging along with her big brother, Jimmy. She had many nieces and nephews that were actually a bit older than she was, that she considered great friends and playmates, as well. Jane’s nephew, Alton, who was younger than Jane by a few years, has some amazing stories and wonderful memories of her growing up years and their fun times together as kids and kinfolk.
Jane’s Father worked for different oil companies in the Texas Panhandle, and so they moved around as he would as he would change jobs. Jane started school in Sunray, Texas, and then when she was in the second grade, the Williamses moved back to Lefors. Jane attended school in Lefors until the seventh grade, then her family to Kellerville, Texas. She graduated from eighth grade there in Kellerville. At this point, her family moved into town in McLean and Jane attended all four high school years at McLean High School, where she would graduate with the Class of 1951. One of Jane’s favorite memories was being a cheerleader for the McLean Tigers, as well as a band leader for the McLean Marching Band. As many of you know, she continued to be an avid fan of the McLean Tigers and Lady Tigers, following them to basketball games and football games for many years to come. She especially enjoyed the Tiger’s winning game at the State Football Championship in 2018!
Jane married Frank N. Simpson in June of 1951. She worked for Earl Stubblefield in his haberdashery in McLean, then later that year, was hired to go to work for Vera Back in her insurance agency. Jane started this new job on her 18th birthday! This position led her to eventually purchase Vera Back’s insurance agency when she was 21 years old. Along the way, Cynthia Gay was born in May of 1953, then Curtis James came along in June of 1959. Through the years, she was able to buy the Clifford Allison Agency, then later purchased the Boyd Meador Agency.
Jane devoted her time to her church, her family and her community. She served for over 43 years as an independent agent, before selling the agency. She was more than an insurance agent, she played the role of part time attorney, counselor and confidant. People came to her office for advice on many different levels, and she always took time to listen. Jane was a devoted member of the First Baptist Church in McLean, serving different roles, from church secretary, to Sunday School teacher, choir director, and pianist. She led the singing for over 50 years. Jane loved working with the youth and enjoyed sponsoring many trips, Youth Evangelism conferences and other activities.
Jane has had a very full life filled with family, friends and a lot of love! Jane has shared the past 41 years with her loving husband, Darryel Herndon. He has been so devoted to caring for Jane and meeting her each and every need.
Each one of the grands and great-grands have had that sweet privilege of being loved, fed, and prayed for by their Granny Jane. So, between all of the different moments shared, birthdays and holidays, you can only imagine the number of stockings on Jane and Darryel’s mantle each and every Christmas!!! She had a way of bringing everyone together and enjoying every single minute.
Together Jane and Darryel have enjoyed visiting people together, traveled, played lots of music together, and made memories bringing their families together. They have served together through their love of music at their church, and in their community, for many years. Together, they have these five adult children, plus their spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In their “golden years” Jane and Darryel had wonderful friendships and feel very blessed to be able to serve in such an amazing community! They also know how blessed their families are to be served by such a wonderful community! So many of their friends and family have gone on before them, so a great reunion awaits Granny in Heaven!
A big “Thank You” to so many of you who have expressed your condolences with a visit, food, a card, or a call. Thank you to those that have shared in this life journey with Jane and her family. The family wishes to extend a heart felt thanks to the wonderful servants in their church and community, to the wonderful caregivers through the Home Health agencies and Hospice. Be encouraged, because there are still such great people helping others.
Jane was preceded in death by her parents and all ten of her siblings: Pete Williams, Johnny Williams, Toby Williams, Faye (Williams) Flynn, George Williams, Cicero Williams, Bennie Wayne (Williams) Smith, Sue (Williams) Howell, Neil Williams, and Jimmy Williams.
Jane is survived by her husband, Darryel Herndon of McLean; daughter, Cynthia Gay Hill of McLean; son, Curt Simpson and wife, Nancy, of Childress; daughter, Teresa Thompson and husband, Ricky, of Gruver; daughter, Bity Noble of Gruver; son, Clint Herndon and wife, Renae, of Amarillo. Grandchildren Jennifer (Hill) Cartwright and husband, Darin, of Spring; Allison Hill of McLean; Meredith Simpson Ochoa of Childress; Seth Simpson of Bozeman, Montana; Josh Hastey and Matt Hastey of Gruver; Dan Smith of Oklahoma City; David Smith of Oklahoma City; Jessica Lewis of Amarillo ; Jonathan Lewis of Amarillo; Jeremy Lewis of Amarillo. Great-grands Lexie, Gracelyn, Dylan, Saylee, Luke and Berklee; and many nieces, nephews and extended family.
