Loretta Rose Herrington

Loretta Rose Herrington, 77, of Ballinger, Texas, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, surrounded by family.

She was born on Saturday, May 8, 1944, to Claude Anton and Laura Ruby (King) Peterson in Newcastle, Wyoming.  Loretta was a jack of all trades and took up many different roles during her beautiful life.  From working cattle to her position as a bookkeeper, there wasn’t anything she couldn’t do. She proved that with her handiwork as an artist, where she created beautiful works of art in watercolor through the local Artist’s Guild.  Loretta was also known for her talent in sewing, where she made beautiful clothing for all of her loved ones, utilizing her own patterns.  She once taught herself to macrame just because someone told her she couldn’t.  Among her love for creating beautiful things, was her talent for gardening vegetables and herbs and turning them into exquisite vinegars and the best ketchup you have ever tasted. In 1991 she married Randall “Randy” Herrington, and together they shared  21 years before his passing in 2012. Above all things, Loretta loved her children and her family.

Loretta is preceded in death by her parents Claude and Laura Peterson, her husband Randy Herrington, her first husband James Carol Murphy, her sister Jean Daly, and brothers Johnny and George Peterson.

She is survived by her children, son Frank Murphy and wife Silvia of Corpus Christi, daughter Melody Kerley and husband Rick of Moody, Missouri, and son Jimmy Murphy of Ballinger.  Loretta is also survived by her grandchildren James Ryan Murphy and Erica Francis, Catarina Murphy, Kimberly Ben  Tackitt, and Kayleigh and Zack Nanney; great-grandchildren Hudson Nanney, Beau Nanney, Joseph Timberman, J.D. Murphy, Killian Tackitt, Zaylen Tackitt, and Bryan Tackitt.  She will also be greatly missed by her siblings Marian Black, Cleo Haler, Eric Peterson, Laurie Bennett, Sunny Peterson, and Pia Parrish.

A visitation for friends and family will be held on Saturday, December 18, 2021, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Lange Funeral Home in Ballinger.

In lieu of flowers, in honor of Loretta’s love for live plants, the family asks that instead of cut flowers, a donation be made to alivingtribute.org  in her honor.

The family wishes to thank everyone for their support in this trying time.