Herschel Albright
Herschel Albright, age 92, of Sullivan, MO, passed away Saturday, February 8, 2020 at Dunford Court Assisted Living in Sullivan.
Herschel Homer Albright was born June 24, 1927, to Harley Albright and Carrie Radford Albright. He was their only child. Herschel was raised by his mother and stepfather, Bert Miller. Herschel was an ornery child, always full of life and teasing his mother and aunts. Herschel was forced to discontinue his education at Leasburg High School when his stepbrother, Art, left to fight in World War II and Herschel was needed to help on the family farm.
As a young man, Herschel worked as a gas station attendant, truck driver, and well driller. In May of 1949, he married Pearl Ray in Pocahontas, AR. To this union six children were born: Faye, Dale, Gail, Larry, Gay and Jay. Herschel and Pearl were married just short of 67 years when she passed away in 2016. His children would tell you that he was a strict disciplinarian with a soft side whom they used to wrestle with on the living room floor. It took all six of them to get him down and they had to fight dirty by blowing in his ears or running their hands up his pant legs.
Herschel believed in hard work. He retired from the Meramec Mining Company in 1978 after 24 years of service. Herschel always had lots of stories to tell about the mine and the work that he and his coworkers did. He then worked for Wallis Oil for 10 years as a manager of a gas station and car wash. Herschel took great pleasure in knowing that his little service station with three full-service pumps did an equal amount of business as the large gas stations in Bourbon, Cuba, and Leasburg that had many more pumps and were self-service. After a second retirement, he worked part-time for Blanton Oil, Sullivan Car Wash, and Bartolotta’s Auto Dealership.
Working as much as he did and raising six children didn’t leave a lot of free time for hobbies for Herschel. However, he did raise cattle off and on. Although he always complained about having to feed and tend for the cows each day, he also recounted how he could get them tame enough that he could pet them. Herschel also found time for church. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bourbon for six decades. He volunteered as an usher and a trustee for the church. After their retirements, Pearl and Herschel traveled a bit. They went to Europe, Alaska, Hawaii, and many other U.S. states. After Pearl passed, Herschel lived at Dunsford Court where he enjoyed playing Bingo, pitching pennies, and competing at Wii Bowling.
Herschel is survived his children: Faye Teague of Sullivan, MO, Dale Albright and his wife, Joyce of Pollack, LA, Gail Lee and her husband, Joe of Aransas, TX, Larry Albright and his wife, Charlene of Bourbon, MO, and Gay Albright of Columbia, MO; nine beloved grandchildren: Bill Colson of Steelville, MO, Joshua Albright of New Hampshire, C.J. Lee of Sullivan, MO, Jeffrey Albright and his wife, Hannah of Milwaukee, WI, Melissa Albright of Sullivan, MO, Jessica Hantz and her husband, Jake of Odessa, TX, Jennifer Lively of Sullivan, MO, Jared Albright and Logan Albright both of the State of Texas; seven great-grandchildren: Coty Colson, Adam Albright, Owen Albright, Erin Albright, Addyson Lively, Ava Lively, and Eleanor Hantz; and numerous other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his wife Pearl; a son, Jay Albright; his parents; and a granddaughter, Katie Colson.
Funeral services were 12 Noon, Wednesday, February 12, 2020, at the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan, MO. Burial followed in I.O.O.F Memorial Cemetery, Sullivan.
Visitation was held 10 a.m. to 12 Noon, Wednesday, prior to the funeral service at Eaton Funeral Home.
Condolences may be shared with the Albright family online at www.eatonfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are under the care of the Eaton Funeral Home of Sullivan, MO.