James "Joe" Sherman (Plainview)

James Millard Sherman Jr. (Joe) December 7, 2021 - October 8, 2021 Joe Sherman was a lover of life and felt to the very end of life to be “so blessed.” His life began December 7, 1940 in Plainview, Texas as the only child of James M. “Jimmie” and Mary Eunice (True) Sherman. He met Nova Huddleston, a self-described country girl from Halfway, in Plainview High School A Cappella Choir and they married on January 26, 1963. That love affair lasted 58+ years. He adored her and loved to tell her and anyone who would listen, especially his girls and grandchildren, how beautiful she was. He set a great example as husband for his grandsons to follow. He was a 1960 graduate of Plainview High School, a 1963 graduate of U.S. Naval Hospital Corps School in Great Lakes, IL, and a 1982 graduate of Wayland Baptist University with a BSOE degree in church music. As he liked to say, he “crammed 4 years of college into 20+ years,” attending McMurry College, Arlington State College (UTA) and Texas Tech University at various times on his educational journey. Joe was a patriot through and through. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy from 1962 to 1968, serving at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital near Chicago. In more recent years, he rarely went out in public without his Navy Veterans cap affixed to his head. Joe also went on the Texas South Plains Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. and was thrilled with the experience. He actively recruited others to experience the joy he encountered there. Joe Sherman’s occupational journey was adventuresome as well. He spent the majority of his life in Plainview, but he and Nova also lived in Abilene, Texas; North Chicago and Waukegan, Illinois; Arlington and Lubbock, Texas; and Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. In those various places and in Plainview, Joe worked in a naval hospital, for Xerox Corporation, and in the banking industry. He also managed a building supply store, managed a district sales route for AAA coffee, and owned and operated Sherman’s Plainview Plumbing as a master plumber. His hobbies and interests varied widely: golf, fishing, flying planes, motorcycling, woodworking, leatherworking, flying remote control airplanes, water skiing, bull riding, and pistol shooting. He loved playing the piano, singing bass in a quartet named Three Baptists and a Nutt, and listening to all types of music. He especially loved choral and piano music and always enjoyed listening to Martin Duckett play the piano and the church organ. He loved the Texas Rangers and Wayland Baptist baseball teams, and watching his grandchildren play sports. His presence was always felt in the gymnasium or at the stadium. Joe Sherman served his community in various capacities. He served the Plainview Noon Lions Club in virtually every position from Tail Twister to President. He served the Lord as music minister at several churches around the South Plains and T or C, New Mexico. He served as a deacon and on various committees at First Baptist Church, Plainview. His greatest area of service and love was his family. He often felt and expressed that he was “so blessed” by all the folks who reached out and cared for him, especially during these last few months. But it was his family that meant the world to him and who he felt most blessed by. He was blessed because he was a blessing. It started with a terrific marriage to Nova. They created an incredible home environment for Jennifer and Janna growing up that endured to the next generation and beyond. They set a great example of faith, living right, and loving well. The grandchildren benefited from their grandparents’ constant love and attention. Papa was always his kids’ and grandkids’ biggest, most vocal fan. Joe Sherman never met a stranger, had a fabulous sense of humor and boisterous personality, and a unique way of making you feel welcome and loved. He knew where he was going, knew he would be better off with Jesus, and arrived on early Friday morning as his sweet Nova hugged him. He went to sleep, breathed his last, and woke up in Heaven. He is preceded in death by his parents, Jimmie and Mary Sherman and his in-laws, Andy and Mattie Huddleston. Left to cherish his sweet memory are his wife Nova Sherman of Plainview, Two daughters, Jennifer Streun and husband Kyle of Denver City, TX Janna Driver and husband Jeff of Moore, OK. Ten grandchildren, Jordan Streun and wife Brooke, KayLea Streun, and Jackson Streun, Andrew, Riley and Tanner Bennett and Addison, Ava, Camila, and Briella Driver, Two great grandchildren, Clara and James Streun The family suggests memorials to South Plains Honor Flight, First Baptist Church, Wayland Baseball, or a charity of your choice.