Billie Janet Herring

Remembered for her abiding love and deep devotion to family and her unwavering kindness to all she knew

Billie Janet Herring, née Moore, beloved daughter, sister, cousin, wife, aunt, mom, grandmother, great-grandmother, and devoted friend to many, passed away at her Sebastopol home of nearly 70 years on May 15, 2024, embraced by her three children. She will be remembered for her abiding love and deep devotion to family and her unwavering kindness to all she knew. Innately, Billie extended grace to everyone. Her favorite way to demonstrate this was sending greeting cards for all occasions to those she treasured. This habit, so dear to Billie, was akin to a hobby.

Billie is survived by: her daughter Janet Herring-Sherman, son-in-law James Sherman, and grandson Adam, all of McMinnville, OR; her son, Patrick Herring, daughter-in-law Helen Herring, grandson Daniel Herring, granddaughter Kathryn Herring (Josh Swedberg), and great-granddaughters Greta Swedberg and Tabitha Swedberg, all of Santa Rosa; granddaughter Megan Shaw (Kyle Shaw), great-grandson, Lewis Shaw, and great-granddaughter Nellie Shaw, all of Fairfax; and daughter Nancy Davidson, son-in-law Bill Davidson, granddaughter Sara Davidson, and grandson Ryan Davidson, all of Santa Rosa. Billie was preceded in death by: her parents; her sister, Gloria Birkhofer of Sebastopol; her first husband, Edgar Herring; her second husband, Haven Best; and, in 1954, her newborn son, Robert J. Herring.

Billie Janet was born to John William and Salome Alice Moore (née Herring) at their home on Willow Street near downtown Sebastopol, the town where she would reside her entire life. Billie’s name was chosen because she so strongly resembled her father. Her middle name, Janet, was inspired by Janet Gaynor, the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress the year Billie was born. Billie and her sister, Gloria, grew up in the Willow Street home, attending Sebastopol and Park Side elementary schools, and later walking to Analy High School. On weekends and after school, the sisters worked at their parents’ nearby store, Moore’s Market and Butcher Shop, on Bodega Avenue. Billie recalled the feeling of family they shared at home and at their store, which had been her paternal grandfather’s. In her teens, she worked at Art Point Studios, making cards and announcements for movie stars, then as an usher at El Rey Theater on South Main Street.

The Moore family was one of the first in town to own a television, and Billie liked the early sitcoms. On TV in recent years, she was a fan of the Hallmark Channel and the shows, Jeopardy, Dancing with the Stars, and Wheel of Fortune. “The Sound of Music” and  “Dirty Dancing” were her favorite movies—appropriate choices since Billie, a graceful dancer, had enjoyed singing when her mother played the piano and in the church choir as a youth. Billie’s love of jigsaw puzzles and card games was born in her pre-teen years, as was her early passion for sewing, encouraged by her father when he bought her a sewing machine as a surprise eighth-grade graduation gift.

After high school, Billie worked as a teller at the Bank of Sonoma County. She met Sebastopol native Edgar Joseph Herring at the wedding of her high school friend, June DeKleva, and George Mendonca in July of 1950. Ed and Billie were engaged that Christmas Eve and married on March 17, 1951, at St. Sebastian’s Catholic Church.

Shortly after, she joined Ed at Best & Feaks Insurance Agency as secretary and receptionist, a perfect role for the young beauty with a welcoming smile, gracious manner, and pleasant phone voice. For 35 years, Billie worked off and on at the agency, which they purchased in 1953. In 1955, Billie, Ed, and Janet were one of the original families to settle in Sebastopol’s earliest subdivision, Belmont Terrace near Covert Lane.  Billie laughed when she recounted how an apple tree once stood where her living room fireplace was.

Billie was instrumental in helping Ed with his insurance affairs and civic duties, especially for the Lion’s Club. She spearheaded the decorating of many a float for Apple Blossom Parades. At Best & Feaks, she was able to fashion a work schedule that allowed her time to raise her children. Billie seldom missed a horse show, school function, musical performance, or sports event—often held at the same schools she’d attended. For years, Billie was a Sebastopol Bobby Sox Girls Softball Team chaperone.

In retirement, she picked up that pace again, regularly caring for her grandchildren as babies and youngsters, and cheering them on as they played soccer, softball, baseball, volleyball, and basketball, wrestled, and performed in school bands. All who knew Billie would agree, she was born for the role of grandmothering.

Billie and Ed had four children; established the family’s cherished, and now 63-year-old, summer tradition of vacations at the rustic Trinity Alps “Resort” in Trinity County; hosted countless family birthday parties, Christmas Eve, Thanksgiving, Easter, Fourth of July, Super Bowl, and Cal vs Stanford football game gatherings; and, in the early years, recurrent Pedro card parties. She was a loyal San Francisco Giants fan. The couple traveled, often by cruise ship, to 17 countries on five continents with Hawaii, Scandinavia, and Japan her favorite destinations.

Four years after Ed passed away, Billie’s family expanded in an unexpected way. On May 15, 2010, she married widower Haven Best and opened her arms to his family. They were wed at the United Methodist Church in Sebastopol where Billie was a member. An established apple grower in Graton, Haven had been a childhood friend of Ed’s while growing up in Hessel, outside Sebastopol.

As perpetual honeymooners, Billie and Haven put many miles on their beloved RVs, Fireball and Fireball 2, making many trips through California and Oregon. Alongside Haven, Billie’s childhood love of fishing was rekindled. Some of her biggest smiles came while proudly displaying a sizeable trout catch! Billie and Haven split their time between his home in Graton and hers in Sebastopol where fun included nightly games of Rummikum. Haven passed away in 2017. Soon after, the first of Billie’s four great-grandchildren was born.

Family gatherings were a key part of Billie’s life from the day she was born. Fittingly, Billie played out her last weeks in the home where she raised her family. Her 95th birthday and final Mother’s Day were spent surrounded by her children and their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses, and great-grandchildren.

Billie’s family is extremely grateful to her devoted caregiver, Talica “Tali” Tuberi. They are also thankful for the many cards, videos, photos, and flowers sent, calls made, and other kindnesses offered to Billie during her time in Hospice care.

A funeral service will be held June 12, 10 a.m., at Pleasant Hills Memorial Park, 1700 Pleasant Hill Road, Sebastopol, followed by a celebration of life, for sharing memories of Billie, at the Holy Ghost Hall, 7960 Mill Station Road, Sebastopol. Private family interment at a later date.

In Billie’s memory, please consider donating to Providence Hospice Sonoma County, 439 College Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95401, or Sebastopol United Methodist Church, 500 N. Main St., Sebastopol, CA 95472.