James Craig Herring

James Craig Herring James Craig Herring, 81, died peacefully on June 20, 2011. Jim was a loving, tender, supportive husband, father, grandfather, and friend with a hearty sense of humor and incredibly kind heart. Jim was born March 29, 1930 to Theodore Roosevelt and Lenora Dale Herring in Cincinnati, Ohio. He lived in Chicago, Des Moines, Kansas City, Buffalo, New York City, and Los Angeles. Jim graduated from Brooklyn Friends High School in Brooklyn, New York, attended Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin and graduated with a B.A. from Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana. He earned a Master of Divinity from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin. He later earned his school librarian certification from Texas Women's University. Jim pastored churches in Fredericksburg and Crystal City, Texas before returning to Austin where he taught special education and served as a special education librarian in AISD. Jim also worked in retail including a number of years at Oshman's Sporting Goods. Jim volunteered in the UT Ticket Office and at North Austin Medical Center. Jim lived a life of service with warmth and sincerity. He had the gift of making other people feel important and loved. He is survived by Billie Grace Ungerer Herring, his wife of 55 years; son Bill Herring, his wife Mary Lou, and their daughter Marian; son Ted Herring, his wife Maureen, and their sons Eric Herring, Nick Herring, his wife Michelle, and Chad Herring, all from the Austin area; and by his cousin Dale Armstrong and his wife Jane, of Stillwater, OK. Jim loved classical music and jazz. He enjoyed sports, especially golf, and was a life long fan of the Texas Longhorns and New York Yankees. In his later years Jim became an avid reader who especially loved mystery and suspense novels. Jim's faith in Christ was a source of comfort throughout his life. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church at 8001 Mesa Dr., Austin, Texas where a memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on July 16, 2011. Jim strongly supported education and libraries and was so proud of the achievements of his wife, Dr. Billie Grace Herring. In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate that memorials be directed to the Billie Grace Herring Scholarship, School of Information, The University of Texas at Austin, 1616 Guadalupe, Austin, Texas, 78701.