Alma Jean Herring

Alma Jean Herring (Jean) was born May 11, 1931 on her grandparent's farm in Robert Lee to Otis and Flora Cowley Smith. Jean grew up as only child and attended Bronte schools graduating in 1949 as class valedictorian. One week later she married Harold Sheppard of Robert Lee and they followed the oil field until settling in Odessa with their 3 children (Donna, Randy, Ricky). She moved back to Bronte after Harold died. Jean married E.S. (Snooky) Herring in 1962. They moved to a ranch in Cleo near Junction, Texas where the children attended and graduated from Junction High School. Her children went on to graduate from Texas A&M University, Air Force Academy, and Southwest Texas State University. Snooky and Jean moved to the family ranch near Maryneal, Texas. Snooky died in 2014 and Jean continued to live on the ranch until she started spending time with each of her children in Junction, Del Rio, and Peachtree City, GA. Jean was a member and an elder of Sweetwater Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed crafts, loved to sew, knit, and crochet sleeping mats for the homeless and hats for cancer patients. She made friends everywhere she went and gave unwavering support to the West Texas Rehabilitation Center.
She is survived by her children: Donna Gosney (Michael), Randy Sheppard (Jan), and Ricky Sheppard (Cindy); eight grandchildren (Kimberlee Gosney, Alyssa Rieber (Danny), Mathew Gosney, Martin Keller (Karena), Jodi Garner (Daniel), Jamie Graf (Luke), Zac Sheppard (Laurel), Nash Sheppard (Vanessa); great grandchildren Emma and Samantha Rieber, Olivia Gosney, Natalie, Mary, Isabel, and Beckett Sheppard, Nolan and Parker Garner, Liam and Makenzie Graf; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
The family would like to thank Mina, Penny, Anna, Christine, and William of Methodist Hill Country Hospice for the care and compassion they showed to Jean and her family.
A memorial service, will be held 2:00pm Saturday, May 24, 2025 at the First Presbyterian Church , 201 S 11th Street Junction, Texas 76849.
Services with integrity, pride, and honor are under the direction of Kimble Funeral Home. (325) 446-3076
In lieu of flowers, please contribute to the West Texas Rehabilitation Center or the charity of your choice.