Phyllis Barbara Herring

Mom was born May 9, 1936 to her parents, Percy Hydes and Phyllis Mable Smith, in Derby, England. Mom had 2 sisters, Joyce and Iris, and 2 brothers, Keith, and an infant brother that had died shortly after her mother giving birth. All are no longer living. Mom is superseded in death with her husband, Blaine and beloved son, Steven Herring. Mom had a hard life when she was young. Growing up, her family did not have much. With food scarce, and World War II going on, they had to rely on themselves as young children to care for themselves. Her family lived in constant fear during the war. On so many occasions, the family had to hide in the basement with little food and no light, in fear of being taken away by the Nazis. This is when my mothers, love for reading had started. Lying in the dark, with a flashlight reading books, gave her so much pleasure and solace. After the war, and in her teen years she obtained her first job and worked as a candy striper. She met our father, Blaine, shortly thereafter, in Felixstowe, England. Our father was stationed at Royal Air Force Base in Felixstowe. They soon fell in love and transferred to Texas and were married on September 18, 1957 in San Antonio, Texas. Mom had applied for US Residency at this time. They lived there for several years before returning back to England in 1960. In 1962, mom gave birth to Debbie. Soon afterwards, Dad got papers to transfer to Travis AFB in Fairfield, CA. Dad had to transfer by himself to California to set up a place to live for his little family. Mom left Liverpool, England, by vessel Britannica, on a ship to America. She had to travel by herself with an infant. She was very scared and nervous with her husband not with her. Once in America, she crossed the country by bus to California. With baby in tow, she joined her husband to start a new life outside of England, to America. Dad was able to secure base housing at Waterman Park Federal Housing, more known to us all, as the Fairfield Civic Center. There they lived and enjoyed life on base housing. Mom then became pregnant with Steve, in 1965. With the family expanding, they moved to a small, quaint house on Bell Avenue, next to Lee Bell Park. We lived there until 1967. Mom had attended Citizenship classes at Armijo High School and then applied for Citizenship in February 1967, and was granted U.S. Citizenship in September of 1968. Dad and mom were moving up and were able to purchase a home and that is when we moved to Cambridge Drive. This is where she lived for almost 54 years, until her passing. Life was good, simple, and happy. My mother was a homemaker. She and Dad had lots of neighborhood friends. (The Boatright’s, Yates’, Schmitt’s, Ardave’s, Bussey’s, Ron & Jackie Harris, Dennis & Margie, Joanne Gee and Carlos, and Shirley Correia), and many other families that lived close by. They all would play poker on Friday nights, taking turns at each other’s homes for poker night. With music on the console and kids in the background playing and running amuck like lunatics. Mom wanted to work to supplement the income, and Dad was not too happy about that. He wanted her to stay home to be a homemaker. She wanted more. She was able to get a job as a waitress in 1966 in the restaurant, at the Fairfield Bowling Alley. She felt more independent and was able to make more friends and eventually, joined a bowling league. She bowled for many, many years and even obtained a few bowling trophies. Mom got offered a job being a teacher’s assistant at David A. Weir school. She accepted and worked part time for many years. She eventually became a teacher’s assistant for special needs students. She loved her job, the children she worked with, and the dear friends she made there. She was always involved with many school programs, like the David Weir carnival and all holiday and Christmas programs. In 1970, she became pregnant with her 3rd child, Keith. Mom raised her family, worked, and retired in the late 80’s. Enjoying time with her grandchildren was one of her greatest treasures. She loved teaching them things, reading to them, and spending quality time with them. She always supported them and attended their sporting and school events. She was always on the sidelines for all their games of baseball, basketball, bowling, karate, soccer, cheering them on. She loved them all, unconditionally. She loved being around her family for get-togethers and holidays. Mom loved to paint, knit, doing crafts and gardening. She also, loved to go Bingo. That was her regular weekly night out with her friends. Mom always was so lucky at Bingo, winning often. She enjoyed running the World Series Pools for many, many years and was a huge A’s fan back in the 70’s. She loved watching Tennis, Basketball - Go Kings - the original Kings that is, and the LA Lakers. She also loved her Football. Loved the Raiders and Saints. She loved Drew Breeze!! She always got on the Super Bowl Pools every year without fail. She loved going to Cache Creek to gamble and play the slots. Always so lucky at winning. Mom was also an avid animal lover. She loved her doggies and cats. They provided much love and companionship to her over the years. She could never say no to a new puppy. Every pet met so much to her and she deeply loved them all. As many of you know, our family has been through many troubling times over the years. Her husbands’ indiscretions that put him in jail, brought on so much turmoil, hatred, division, embarrassment and addiction to our family. With the passing of our father, and Steve, who my mother absolutely adored, had died way too young and suddenly, added to our family’s breakdown. She never recovered from the loss of her son. My mother had been so depleted, depressed, and the stress, all contributed to her decline in health over the last few years. Mom became a recluse and did not want to leave her house for much of anything. She was a broken soul. Mom, unfortunately, became an enabler for so many years. Always trying to please everyone to make up what our father had done. On so many occasions, it backfired, making things worse. Her heart was always in the right place. She always did it out of love, hoping it would heal our family. Mom had numerous health issues, battled Cancer, had several heart attacks, and always bounced back. She was a tough ole bird. We were always surprised how strong she was to get through these tribulations time and time again. Mom never lost her faculties though. She always knew exactly what was going on, able to pay her bills online, surf the net, and loved to purchase things from Amazon. She loved playing her Pogo games online and getting the badges. Her and Joanne Boatright would play games for hours on end with each other online, even though they lived just across the street from each other. She loved Gin Rummy, Hearts, Spades, and memory games. It would keep her memory sharp, she always said. She knew all her medications well and administered them to herself. Even though, lots of times, mom would take the wrong dose, or would not take them all as prescribed. She took what she felt was right, not what the doctor had ordered. Her failing health finally caught up with her. At 84 years old, her body could no longer sustain her. She was admitted to the hospital on January 28th, with severe shortness of breath, and edema. She started to decline in the hospital. With the pandemic, we were unable to visit her, contributing to her failing health and will to survive. I promised her, I would bring her home and I did. She never did well in the hospital. It was out of her comfort zone. She wanted to go home to be with Steve. We brought her home on February 2nd. Family and dear life-long friends came by for support and to say their final good byes and offered to do a group prayer. She passed peacefully soon after coming home, in her sleep, with her son, Keith by her side holding her hand. Mom was survived by her daughter and son in law, Debbie and Dean Lukehart. Son, Keith Herring, Daughter in law, Kimberly Herring, Grandsons, Michael Lukehart, Nathaniel Herring and Caleb Herring, Granddaughters, Shana Pinell, Brittany Herring, Daniel Herring, Madison Herring, and a great-granddaughter. On a side note, mom will be buried with her lifelong companion…. Her purse!! She would not go anywhere without that thing. She held on to it for dear life when she was anywhere away from home. Whether at our homes visiting family or friends, it was always strapped by her side. We always laughed at how she would take her purse from room to room or to the backyard or dinner table, or bathroom, when visiting others’ homes. It was her security blanket. I also want to give a special thanks and acknowledgement to my niece, Nicole Smith. Nicole was mom’s care giver over the last few of years. She came over religiously 2x a week to help with light chores, laundry, running errands, fixing meals, and caring for her pets. She was a wonderful, caring, and patient companion and confidant for my mother. My mom knew she could trust her and count on her. Nicole was always open and honest with our Mother. My mother was always amazed at Nicole for being so independent, resourceful, and her take charge and get things done attitude. She could fix anything and always knew what to do and my mom was so impressed by her. My mother, genuinely loved Nicole and thought of her as a granddaughter. I truly, want to thank you for being there for my mother. Interment will be private at Sacramento National Valley Cemetery in Dixon on February 24th at 1:15 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a small donation to the American Cancer Society, in my mother’s honor. A “Celebration of Life” for Barbara Herring will follow after the funeral services on February 11, 2021 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm at 3305 Knollwood Court, in Fairfield. Anyone who would like to attend, may come and Celebrate her life with us. Food and refreshments will be provided. Due to the Pandemic, please follow all mandated Covid-19 protocols.

Tributes

Phyllis Barbara Herring

May 9, 1936 - February 3, 2021