Obituary published on Legacy.com by Hiett's LyBrand Funeral Home on Nov. 1, 2025.
Funeral services for Herschel LyBrand, 74, of
Wills Point, TX, are scheduled for 11:00 AM, Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at Russell Memorial Methodist Church. Burial will follow at White Rose Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Hiett's LyBrand Funeral Home.
Herschel passed away on Friday, October 31, 2025, at home surrounded by his family.
Herschel Leonidas LyBrand was born on January 13, 1951, in
Wills Point, TX, to parents, John Chester LyBrand and Mary Hervey LyBrand. The LyBrand family owned and operated the local funeral home, and Herschel worked alongside his father at the family hardware store and funeral home beginning at the age of 12.
He was a proud member of the 1965 state championship-winning football team and graduated from Wills Point High School with the Class of 1969. After high school he attended college at Texas A&M College Station and was a member of the Army Corp of Cadets. Herschel went on to become a fourth-generation funeral director and embalmer, graduating from the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science Gupton-Jones, in 1972, and received his 50 year pin in 2023. Over the years, he owned and operated funeral homes in several communities, including Herschel LyBrand Funeral Home in Wills Point and Edgewood. Dan & Karen Hiett purchased the funeral home in 2000, and he continued to work as an active funeral director at Hiett's LyBrand Funeral Home. Herschel married Judy Smith, and together they had two children, Meredith and Lance. He later married Linda Raney on December 29, 1995, in Hot Springs, AR.
He was a dedicated member of Russell Memorial Methodist Church and the Seekers Class, a member of Rotary International since 1972 (serving twice as past president, as past assistant district governor, and as a Paul Harris Fellow), Wills point Historical Society, and president of the Fin & Feather Club. He also served as a former director of First National Bank of Wills Point and vice president of White Rose Cemetery. On September 18, 2023, Herschel was honored as one of the first inductees into the Wills Point Education Foundation's Hall of Honor. Throughout the years, he also served multiple terms on the Wills Point City Council.
Herschel enjoyed his annual dove hunts with his son Lance and friends, was an avid Dallas Cowboys and Texas A&M Aggies football fan and spent many weekends cheering on his favorite teams.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Johnny and Mary LyBrand; and sisters, Elizabeth LyBrand and Eugenia LyBrand.
Herschel is survived by his wife, Linda LyBrand of
Wills Point, TX; son, Lance LyBrand and wife Holli of
Wills Point, TX; daughter, Meredith LyBrand Daniels and husband Tony of Fate, TX; daughter, Samantha Baas and husband Justin of Auburn, WA; grandchildren, Chancellor Drake and Natalie Page Daniels of Fate, TX, Reagan and Lauren Baas of Auburn, WA, Brayleigh Long, and John Lucas and Raynie LyBrand of
Wills Point, TX; sister, Lucia LyBrand Deen and husband Billy Jack of Canton, TX; nephews, Luke Deen and wife Meagan of Canton, TX, and Sam Deen and wife Ashley of Canton, TX; and great-niece and nephew, George and Mary Deen.
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