Obituary of Joe "Chief" Herrera

Cuahutemoc Herrera was called to God at age 97 from Mission Manor Nursing Home the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 5, with family members at his side. Known by most as Joe or Chief, he was born March 10, 1921 to Paulo and Julia (Yanez) Herrera in Fort Worth. He was named for a distant ancestor, Cuauhtémoc, translated Descending Eagle, the 11th and last Aztec emperor (1520).

Chief served honorably in the United States Army at both the Persian Gulf Theater and Eastern Front and during World War II. He worked as an auto-mechanic as a career, and was employed for almost 30 years at Teague Motors, Inc.in Mount Vernon.

He met and married the love of his life Doretha Mae (Durant) Herrera in Titus County. They had eight children and shared 36 years of marriage until her death in 1989.

Chief was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He leaves behind a legacy of love, hard work, and far-reaching family. “Papa” was seen often with children gathered around as he entertained them or with small animals, many of which he had taken in with injuries and nursed  back to health.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Doretha Mae Herrera; a son, Wayne Herrera; brothers, Paul and Tony Herrera; sister, Hope Gaddy, and grandsons, Jerod and Caleb Herrera.

Chief is survived by four daughters and sons-in-law, Deloris and William Jacobs of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Teresa and James Taylor of Gilmer, Rita and Johnnie Foster, Sr. and Cynthia Smith and Mike Lappin, all of Mount Vernon; and three sons and daughters-in-law, Joe and Rebekah Herrera, Jr. of Henderson, Jimmy and Carla Herrera and Angelo and Maryann Herrera, all of Mount Vernon.

He is also survived by a brother Jesse Valencia of Fort Worth; a sister, Connie Petty of Lubbock; 17 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018 at the Sam B. Harvey Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m. preceding the service.  Chip Horton, pastor at the Church of Christ in Mount Vernon, officiating.  Burial with military honors performed by the Fort Hood Honor Guard following in the Mount Vernon City Cemetery.

Pallbearers are grandsons and grandsons-in-law, Johnny Foster, Jr., Jesse Herrera, Kerry Davis, James Taylor, Mike Lappin, Jerry Hammond, Josh Pack, Jesse Esparza.  Honorary pallbearers are Angelo Herrera, Johnnie Foster, Billy Jordan, and Ronnie Stoker.

The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, a memorial donation be given in the name of Joe Herrera, Sr. to Cypress Basin Hospice, 207 Morgan St., Mount Pleasant, TX. 75455.