Hershel Langley, Country Club, Missouri, passed away on Monday, August 26, 2024, at a local hospital, surrounded by family. He was born in Guilford, Missouri on August 8, 1941, to Ray and Gertrude (Rhodes) Langley. Hershel attended Horace Mann Lab school in Maryville, graduating in 1959. He worked the wheat harvest in Montana before returning to the area to begin working for the American Can Company. On February 16, 1963, he married the love of his life Kathryn DeFreece of Ravenwood and settled in St. Joseph where they would raise their family. Hershel drove for Crouch Brothers Trucking for 13 years and then at Prime Tanning as a traffic manager until his retirement in 2008.
Hershel greatest joy was spending time around the water camping, skiing, and fishing. He and his son Brit became avid anglers. He enjoyed travelling to Texas to visit his friend, Les, and while there, participated in several fishing tournaments, bringing home the gold. Les would travel to Missouri in the winter to hunt with Hershel and his dogs Spike and Chelsea. In 1999, Hershel and his buddies built a raft and launched it in the mighty Missouri River floating all the way to Saint Louis.
He once drove a fire truck to a Las Vegas convention. Kathryn, Rex and Wanda went along for two weeks of adventures. Some of his greatest stories come from the time spent with the Southside Sertoma club. He enjoyed volunteering at the Deaf Camp where he would get to cook and spend time with the campers.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years Kathryn; children, Brit (Beth) Langley of St. Joseph and Tonya El Masri of Basehor, KS; grandchildren, Caroline and Zachary Langley, Kiandra and Sameera El Masri; sister, Wanda Corwin and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and siblings Floyd, Lavonne, Ramona and Shirley.
There is no scheduled service. Memorials can be sent to the Southside Sertoma Club, c/o Donnie Miller, 1589 SE 85th Road, Easton, MO 64443. Breit-Hawkins Funeral Home, Savannah, MO is in charge of local arrangements.
In the journey of life, the ones we love are never far from our hearts.
