Billy Herren, 80, of Paragould passed away May 20, 2014 at Phil and Flo Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro. He was born to the late Onnie and Veva Herren June 7, 1933. Billy worked at Emerson as a supervisor for thirty nine years before retiring in 1995. He enjoyed working on and restoring cars. In his spare time he bought and sold used cars and competed in many classic car shows with his 1972 Cutlass Supreme. He was also active in drag racing in his younger years. Another one of his great passions was high school basketball and he was a fixture at many gyms around the state. He was faithful member of the Center Hill Church of Christ. Preceding him in death are his parents; a brother, Jerry Herren; two sisters, Wava Ellington and Mozelle Huggins and an infant sister, Dorothy Herren.Survivors include a son and daughter in law, Wayne and Kym Herren of Rogers, AR; a brother and sister in law, Norman and Debbie Herren; a sister and brother in law, Frances and Dub Manley; two grandchildren, Natalie Herren and Will Herren; numerous nieces and nephews; and a special friend, Vanetta Bishop. The family will receive friends from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 22 at Phillips Funeral Home. Services will be Friday at 10:00 a.m. in the Center Hill Chapel of Phillips Funeral Home with Michael Cox and Mike Meredith officiating. Burial will follow in Liberty Cemetery. Nathan Herren, Nippy Mangrum, Richard Huggins, Allen Ellington, Major McDaniel and Ivey Herren will be serving as Pallbearers. Honorary Pallbearers will be Weldon Chesser, Harold Watson and Chick DeHart, John Owens, and the morning McDonald's coffee crew.The family wishes to express their profound gratitude to the staffs of Arkansas Methodist Medical Center and the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House who went above and beyond caring for him.Lasting memorials can be made to the Children's Home of Paragould, Arkansas Children's Hospital, or St. Jude's Memorial Hospital.