Celebration of Life: Gene Hermes

Maybe you do not know this, but from the numbers of people in this room...you probably do. But Sheriff Gene Hermes was man of service...with servants heart.

I’m sure many of you read his published obituary, but many of you may not know that Gene wrote his own...

This was not because he wanted accolades or to brag upon himself, but because he wanted to serve in his departure from this world in the manner in which he served daily.

You should also know his family did add a few things, but if you read his resume here is what you would find:

Sheriff Gene Hermes was husband: and he loved his wife. He wanted to make sure that he did all he could to prepare for this day that she worried about nothing. But let me tell a bit about my friend Gene Hermes...he was not like most men. Most men have a wall between them and their feelings. But when we broached the subject of Sherri Hermes...he made sure that I understood that he was the man he was because he had her in his life.

Sheriff Gene Hermes was a father: yes he locked up criminals when necessary, gave out tickets when he needed too, dealt with some pretty tough characters over his law enforcement career, but he was a dad. He loved Caylee like no tomorrow. When we would talk about life as he got sicker...the only two things on his mind were taking care of Sherri and Caylee. As you heard earlier, he told her stories out his head and eventually created an entire four dog setup to expound regularly. Yes he sort of looked tough on the exterior, but he was really just a fella wanting to serve God, his family, and his community.

Sheriff Gene Hermes was a family man all the way around...he invested in his nephews and went camping with Travis/Cody/ and Josh their friend. I think his stories started with them when they were younger and he continued the ritual with Caylee. He gathered with his family events and would share with you about his bar-b-que pit even when he was not cooking.

Sheriff Gene Hermes was a worker intent on learning from those around him. He gives credit for his success to men like Johnny Price from the City of Caldwell and retired Sheriff Dale Stroud.

Sheriff Gene Hermes could run heavy equipment.

Sheriff Gene Hermes was also the Fire Marshall in Caldwell for 26 years.

He was a servant to kids with Burleson County Cops for Kids.

He was a “Peace Officer”.

And there is where we will spend a few minutes.

Sheriff picked out this passage as it was a favorite of his:

Matthew 5:9 ESV

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Our faith describes what a man of God should contain in his character in a section of the “Sermon of the Mount”, Jesus’ longest sermon.

There are eight to nine(according to how one reads the text) beatitudes listed to begin this sermon.

These are characteristics of a follower of Jesus display some pretty difficult concepts to maintain.

Peace makers are described as those who, to the best of their ability remain at peace with all people, but also seek to encourage peace amongst others.

How does one set their mind to serve in this way...

This is how Sheriff Gene Hermes sought to do it: serve, treat others well, invest in others, listen, love, enjoy life/people, did I mention serve.

let’s read a comparable verse

John 15:13 ESV

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Many of you know what it is like to put your life on the line for others.

Many of you have been in indescribable situations just like Sheriff.

But you hold the line and that is Sheriff Gene Hermes did for his family and in this community for his adult life.

So what would Gene tell you today if he could tell one more story?

He would not make this one up from his head, but it would be one he carried in his heart:

His faith comes from and is in Christ.

John 14:1–6 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.