January 13, 1951-October 31, 2025

Funeral services for Herschel LyBrand, 74, of Wills Point were held Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at Russell Memorial Methodist Church.

Burial followed at White Rose Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Hiett’s LyBrand Funeral Home.

Herschel passed away on Friday, October 31, 2025, at home surrounded by his family.

Herschel Leonidas LyBrand was born on January 13, 1951, in Wills Point to parents, John Chester LyBrand and Mary Hervey LyBrand.

The LyBrand family owned and operated the local funeral home, and Herschel worked alongside his father at the family hardware store and funeral home beginning at the age of 12.

He was a proud member of the 1965 state championship- winning football team and graduated from Wills Point High School with the Class of 1969.

After high school, he attended two years of college at Texas A&M in College Station and was a member of the Army Corp of Cadets.

Herschel went on to become a fourth-generation funeral director and embalmer, graduating from the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science, Gupton-Jones, in 1972.

Over the years, he owned and operated funeral homes in several communities, including Wills Point and Edgewood.

Herschel married Judy Smith, and together they had two children, Meredith and Lance. He later married Linda Raney on December 29, 1995, in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

He was a dedicated member of Russell Memorial Methodist Church and the Seekers Class, a member of Rotary International since 1972 (serving twice as past president, as past assistant district governor, and as a Paul Harris Fellow), and president of the Fin & Feather Club.

He also served as a former director of First National Bank of Wills Point and as vice-president of White Rose Cemetery.

On September 18, 2023, Herschel was honored as one of the first inductees into the Wills Point Education Foundation’s Hall of Honor.

Throughout the years, he also served multiple terms on the Wills Point City Council.

Herschel enjoyed his annual dove hunts with his son, Lance, and friends, was an avid Dallas Cowboys and Texas A&M Aggies football fan and spent many weekends cheering on his favorite teams.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Johnny and Mary LyBrand; and sisters, Elizabeth LyBrand and Eugenia LyBrand.

Herschel is survived by his wife, Linda LyBrand of Wills Point; son, Lance LyBrand and wife, Holli, of Wills Point; daughter, Meredith LyBrand Daniels and husband, Tony, of Fate, Texas; daughter, Samantha Baas and husband, Justin, of Auburn, Washington; grandchildren, Chancellor Drake and Natalie Page Daniels of Fate; Reagan and Lauren Baas of Auburn, Washington; and Brayleigh, John Lucas, and Raynie LyBrand of Wills Point; sister, Lucia LyBrand Deen and husband, Billy Jack, of Canton; nephews, Luke Deen and wife, Meagan, of Canton, and Sam Deen and wife, Ashley, of Canton; Nephew, Patrick Estes of Austin, and great-nieces and nephew, George, Emily and Mary Deen.

Visitation was held Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at Hiett’s LyBrand Funeral Home.