Mary Herring

Mary Kathleen Herring, better known to her family and friends as Kay, passed peacefully from this life on December 23, 2023, at the age of 88 in Tulsa, OK.

Kay was born on August 3, 1935, in Anton, TX. Kay was the daughter of Warren and Lydia McCormick Squires. Kay attended school in Littlefield, Austin, and Lubbock, TX. She was a 1953 graduate of Lubbock High and attended Texas Tech.

Kay was united in marriage to Lowell Herring on September 28, 1957, in Lubbock. During their married years, they lived in Monahans, Lubbock, Toyah, Whitharral, and Levelland, TX. After the death of her husband, Kay lived in Tulsa, OK, and Canyon, TX, to be near her children and grandchildren. For the past ten years, Kay has resided in assisted living at Saint Simeon's Senior Community in Tulsa.

While living in Lubbock, Kay worked at the Veteran Administration, Reese Air Force Base, and Key, Carr, and Carr Attorneys. She then served as Whitharral Postmaster for 16 years and was named Postmaster of the Year in 1978. Kay also worked in administrative positions with the post office in Levelland and Lubbock, retiring in 1992 from the Postal Service. While residing at Palo Duro Retirement Village in Canyon, she was a part-time receptionist. Kay enjoyed her jobs through the years, where she could have day-to-day contact with friends, and she carried cherished memories of the places and people she worked with throughout her life.

Kay's world focused on relationships - her relationship with Jesus, her family and friends, and anyone she came in contact with.

Jesus Calling Devotionals were favorites of Kay's. She wrote Romans 12:12: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer." She trusted Jesus to lead the way. She was a member of the Church of Christ.

The joys of Kay's life were her family and her grandchildren. Her family lovingly referred to her as Gran. She knew what every family member was doing and sought to encourage them often. Kay often referred to them as the lights of her life or her chicks. Her song for them was "You Are My Sunshine," and she would often say, "I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck." Kay felt blessed to have lived so long and to have had the opportunity to be a part of their lives.

Kay had an endless list of lifelong friends. She cultivated and kept those friendships throughout her life. She enjoyed following and staying connected with her friends by using Facebook. In addition to her friends, Kay loved making conversations with strangers, and usually, her conversations started with, "Where did you grow up?" She was an expert conversationalist.

Kay was a woman of integrity. She was funny, classy, generous, compassionate, positive, friendly, organized, and fiercely independent. She will be missed by many.

Survivors are her son, Layne Herring, and wife, Cathy, of Tulsa, OK; a daughter Michelle Collier and husband, Kirk of Hooker, OK; 2 grandsons, Chase Herring & Payton Collier; 2 granddaughters, Chelsi Moss and Allie Hamilton; 5 great grandchildren; special nephews, nieces, cousins, and a lifetime of friends.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, brother Bill Squires, and sister Dorothy Jean Coats.

A memorial service for Kay is being planned for 10:00 am, Saturday, March 2, 2024, at the Krestridge Funeral Home Chapel in Levelland, Texas.

In honor of Kay, please reach out and call and encourage a friend.

The family has requested memorial donations be made in honor of Kay to Lisa Bain Ministries, Project 31, Saint Simeon's Senior Community, or your favorite charity. Chapman-Black Funeral Home will be handling the arrangements. Friends and family may visit an online guest book and memorial page for Kay at www.chapman-black.com.