Herbert W Sims

It is with great sadness we share the news that Herbert “Herb” W. Sims passed away peacefully at his home, at the age of 90, on Saturday, January 14, 2023, with his family by his side. Herb was born February 6, 1932, in Rome, Georgia, to George and Cora Sims. He was the 5th of their seven children. Herb went to work at a young age working at a local dairy. From 1949 to 1951 he worked as a Weaver-Automatic Loom for the Burlington Mills carpet industry in Shannon, Georgia. On February 27, 1951, he joined the Air Force. It was while he was in the Air Force that his buddy introduced him to JoAnn Bartsch. They later married on Herb’s birthday, February 6, 1954 (he never forgot his anniversary!) and were married for 59 years. Herb was honorably discharged from the Air Force on February 26, 1955. After the Air Force, he went into the insurance business which became his lifelong career. He moved his family from San Antonio to Tyler in 1965 to go to work for Floyd West & Co. A few years later, he went to work at American States Insurance Co. where he won the Company’s “President’s Award for Sales” every year except one. He really took care of all of his Agents and was the best Sales Rep ever! Herb retired from American States Insurance in 1997. A few months into his retirement, Herb went back to work for Texas Insurance Facilities where he worked for several years before retiring from the insurance business for good.

Once he was finally retired, Herb spent his time working in his two gardens which he loved. He was an excellent gardener – a trait he and his brothers inherited from their father, George. Herb also enjoyed going down to Red Rock where he and JoAnn owned land and had a few head of cattle. He often said about his cows “I just like watching them grow up”. Herb was a member of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Tyler and was a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus Catholic Men’s Organization. If you ever went to one of their fish fries, there’s a good chance Herb may have helped fry your fish! He never met a stranger and made friends wherever he went. Once he was your friend, you had a friend for life. He always liked to joke around and have a good time with people.

Herb was preceded in death by his loving wife, JoAnn; his parents; two sisters and three brothers. He is survived by his two daughters and son-in-law: Jan Branam and husband, Karl, and Denise Sims; his brother, Alton Sims and wife, Kay; numerous nieces and nephews; and a limitless number of friends, all of whom love him and will miss him greatly. If Herb were here he’d be telling us “Everything’s gonna be alright”.

The family would like to thank Traditions Home Health, especially Christina, for all their kindness and assistance in helping us care for our sweet father. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Herb’s memory to: Benedictine Sisters (St Scholastica Monastery), 216 W. Highland Dr., Boerne, TX 78006, https://boernebenedictines.org Bishop Charles E. Herzig, Council 1502, Knights of Columbus, PO Box 7826, Tyler, TX 75711-7826, https://www.uknight.org/CouncilSite/?CNO=1502 or to a charity of your choice.

Funeral Services: A visitation/rosary service will be held in Tyler, TX on Monday, 1/23/2023, at 6:00 pm at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church located at 423 S. Broadway Ave, Tyler, TX. A visitation will be held in Rockne, TX on Tuesday, 1/24/2023, at 5:30 pm, followed by a rosary at 6:30 pm, with a Funeral Mass held on Wednesday, 1/25/2023, at 10:30 am, all at Sacred Heart Catholic Church located at 4045 FM 535, Rockne, TX. Burial to follow in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery beside the church.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.lloydjamesfuneralhome.com for the Sims family.