SHERMAN - Funeral services for Halton Autrey Pilcher will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday October 9 at First Baptist Church of Sherman with Dr. Mike Lawson and Pastor Tim Clayton officiating. A second funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday October 11 at the Hilda United Methodist Church near Mason, Texas. Dr. Lawson and Rev. Wade Powell will officiate. Burial will follow in the Hilda Cemetery. Pallbearers will be David Staggs, Philip Yielding, David Dixon, Chuck Waters, Rich Lavinski, and Jack Baca. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the ADULT 5 Sunday School Class and Hal's racquetball buddies.
After a long and protracted battle with cancer, Mr. Pilcher, 60, passed away Monday morning, October 6 at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. Hal was born July 14, 1954 in Sherman to H.E. and Irene (Autrey) Pilcher. He graduated with a Bachelors and Master Degree of Science in Accounting from the University of North Texas. For the last 20 years, he has owned and operated Halton A. Pilcher CPA Firm.
Mr. Pilcher is survived by his wife of 26 years, Jimmie Jill (Eckert) Pilcher of Sherman and Doss, Texas; mother, Irene of Sherman; son, Brandon and wife Erika of Brooklyn, NY; daughter, Morgan of Sherman and Doss; granddaughter, Ashlie Gomez Pilcher of Lubbock; sister, Marla Laugherty and husband Fred of Peoria, IL; mother-in-law, Yvonne Eckert of Doss; two brothers-in-law, Ernie Eckert of San Angelo and Larry Eckert and wife Jana of Abilene; sister-in-law, Ellen Eckert of Austin; six nieces; two nephews; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father, H.E. "Jack" Pilcher and father-in-law, Ervin Eckert.
The family will receive friends from 6 - 8 p.m. Wednesday October 8 at Waldo Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to First Baptist Church of Sherman at 400 S. Travis, Sherman, Texas 75090, Hilda UMC at PO Box 1404, Mason, Texas 76856 or to the Friends of Doss School at PO Box 50, Doss, Texas 78618.
The register book can be signed online at
waldofuneralhome.com.
Richard Saffa
Hal was one of the finest gentlemen on Earth. He will be greatly missed. Our prayers go out to his family for their comfort. Richard and Ellen SaffaDavid Perkins (Perkins)
I am so sad that Hal is gone, especially for his family as he was one of a kind. Kind, gentle yet manly with a great sense of humor. I am happy that we were friends, one of the few straight men in high school I felt totally comfortable with. I knew he will be greatly missed.
David Perkins Class of 1972
Duke Walker
Hal was remarkable for many things including how he maintained a good attitude while fighting his disease. he always had a good sense of humor and looked for the ironic and comical side of most situations. he will be missed.
Kenneth Meyers
Hal was a friend that I was able to be reacquainted with after moving back to Sherman in 1998. He was a joy to be around always having a positive attitude, a quick wit, and a joke loaded and ready to release at the shortest notice. He wasn't bashful about sharing his faith in Jesus Christ and kept a Bible on the corner of his office desk. He will be missed. May God bless his family and the legacy he leaves.