Herschel Leon Pless

Herschel Leon Pless, age 89, of Pittsburg, Texas, passed away on Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Tyler, Texas, surrounded by his family.

Leon was born June 17, 1936, one of eleven children, in Lonoke County, Arkansas to Van Herbert and Elizabeth Epperson Pless.

He joined the Air Force in December 1956 and served 8 years active duty. Part of that time was spent in Japan. He married Sandra Bonner in 1963 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Their two children were born in Arkansas. They moved their family to Texas in 1971,and raised their children in Mesquite. In 1996, Leon and Sandra moved to Lake Cypress Springs and became members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mount Vernon. They faithfully attended the parish and Leon volunteered many hours maintaining the church grounds and fundraising for various church organizations. Leon served his county as an election judge for Precinct 4.

Leon is survived by his wife of 62 years, Sandra; their children and their spouses, Natalie and Al Fox, Michael and Lourdes Pless; grandchildren, Brittanee (Ross) Shamshiri, James (Nicole) Fox, Eric Fox and fiancée Erin Smith, William (Isabella) Fox; great-grandchildren, Gwendolynn Fox, Cassandra Fox, Nicholas Fox; his siblings, Harold Pless, Mildred Jones, Bob (Helen) Pless, Carolyn (Alva) Fisher and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Van Herbert and Elizabeth Pless; his siblings, Hazel Conway, Earl Pless, Annalou Burgess, Edward Pless, Maudine Holmes, and Gaines (Bud) Pless.

A Funeral Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church located at 406 TX-37, Mount Vernon, TX 75457, on Saturday, March 21, at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations to secure.uso.org are welcome.

A gravesite inurnment will take place at a later date.

Services entrusted to Sam B. Harvey Funeral Home and online condolences may be made at www.samharveyfuneralhome.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Herschel Leon Pless, please visit our floral store.