George Sherrill, 83, of Dale, Texas, entered God’s kingdom on Saturday, November 24, 2012. He was born February 22, 1929, the fifth of six boys born to Elizabeth Pannell and Fred Sherrill. Shortly after George’s birth in Whitharrel, Texas, his family returned to Austin where he spent most of his life.
George grew up in the Govalle area of Austin where he attended Govalle Elementary, Allen Junior High, and Austin High School. His entertainment included playing games such as count Dominoes, Chinese Checkers, Checkers, Monopoly at the Leaches house, a card game called pitch, marbles, riding bikes, making and flying kites, Red Rover, and hide-n-seek
George was a practical man who liked to save and kid around. He says that his dad never spanked him and his mom would only spank him if she could catch him. However, he must have had her wrapped around his finger. He really wanted a bike when he was 9 or 10 years old, so he told his mom he wouldn’t go to school any more unless she bought him a bike. She bought him a big bike for $15 and a smaller bike for his younger brother, William.
George started driving when he was about 14. He learned to drive one of the Leach’s milk trucks; however, he didn’t get an official driver’s license until after he got out of the army at the age of 21.
When he was 15 or 16, George hitchhiked to Port Arthur for a football game. He had no money to get back after the game. He tried to hitchhike, but he ended up hopping a freight train. He took the boxcar to Houston and then towards Austin. Somewhere between Houston and Smithville, they saw a sign that said Fayetteville and thought they were in Arkansas.
When the train got to Smithville, Joe Bert, George’s friend, ran into someone he knew. He convinced the acquaintance he was hungry so they could get some money to eat. Next, they helped a soldier fix a flat tire, so the soldier gave them a ride to Bastrop. A farmer with some chickens took them a little farther into town, and they walked the rest of the way home.
George had been gone for 3 days without a bath. His dad told his mom he had joined the circus. (We know where George learned to joke around.)
George started working as a teenager. He earned about 50 cents a week working in a grocery store when he was about 13 years old. He also rode his bike to deliver the Austin Tribune. When he was about 14 or 15, he hopped a milk truck for his older brother, Otway. Otway drove, and George delivered the milk for no pay. He worked at Hillcrest Creamery/dairy for less than a year when he was 17.
As a young man, George served the U.S. Army in Japan. He also worked for his brother Bill’s dairy, Superior Dairies, and Lone Star Meat Company. George and his wife Christine owned and operated a café, Sherrill’s Inn for a few years in the 1960’s. He retired from the U. S. Post Office in 1990 after serving for 26 years as a mail carrier.
George met his wife, Christine Smith, at the Shanty where she worked as a waitress. They were married for 55 years at the time of his death. George and Christine had 4 children: Stephen, Dessie, Kristie, and Rodney. He was a loving husband and father who always supported his children in their various activities, and he worked hard to build a home for his family.
He loved gardening, raising vegetables, and giving away his bountiful harvest. He cherished visiting friends at Govalle reunions, retired postal workers meetings, church, and the Lockhart Senior Activity Center. He loved his family and God. In his retirement years, he volunteered at the Lockhart Senior Center delivered for Meals on Wheels, and served his Sunday School class.
George was preceded in death by his father, Fred Sherrill; mother, Elizabeth Pannell; brothers Otway, John, Fred (Bill), and Joe. He is survived by his spouse of 55 years, Christine Smith Sherrill; children and spouses, Steve & Amanda, Dessie, Kristie & Rudy, Rodney & Jill; grandchildren, Ashley Sherrill Ellis & Michael Ellis, Matthew Sherrill, Hunter Sherrill, Lana Sherrill, Kristin Hoskins Gutweiler & Wesley Gutweiler, and Calvin Hoskins. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, William and Erlene Sherrill as well as many nieces and nephews.
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock until seven o’clock in the evening, on Tuesday, the 27th of November 2012, at the First Lockhart Baptist Church, 514 Neches Street, Lockhart, Texas.
Funeral services will be conducted at ten o’clock in the morning on Wednesday, the 28th of November 2012, in the Colonial Chapel of Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas. Interment with US Army Honors will follow in Austin Memorial Park, Austin, Texas.
In lieu of flowers and customary remembrances, the family suggests donations be made to the charity of your choice.
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