William H. Judge Sheehan

Judge William H. Bill Sheehan, 80, formerly of Dumas, passed away Monday, January 12, 2009 in Dallas. Memorial services will be held on Thursday, February 5, 2009 at 2:00 PM at the Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas. The service will be in the Ellis Chapel followed by a reception. A visitation will be held on February 4 from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM at his daughters home at 10101 Chisholm Trail, Dallas, Texas. A memorial service will also be held at the First Baptist Church in Dumas on Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 2:00 PM with Rev. Ed Rogers, former pastor, officiating. A family visitation will follow after the service at the church. Local arrangements are by Morrison Funeral Directors. Judge William H. Bill Sheehan was born of humble origins in Childress, Texas on March 6, 1928. His Irish-born father was a circuit-riding revival pastor until his death when Bill was only 3. He was raised by his mother, Maize Sheehan Blankenship and his step-father who owned and operated Docs Shoe Shop in Childress. He acquired a lifelong passion for opera at the age of 13 by listening to the radio in Childress. Bill worked in Docs Shoe Shop from the age of 10 until he entered the Army in World War II. He served in the 10th Mountain Division where he was a ski instructor and the boxing Champion of his regiment. Prior to his enlistment, he attended Texas AM University. Subsequently, he attended Baylor University where he graduated from the law school in December, 1950. He was in the Army Reserves and was called up during the Berlin crisis when he served in Texas as a post legal officer. While in the Army he served in ranks from enlisted private to Major. He worked as a general practice lawyer, both civil and criminal for 28 years in Friona and Dumas. He was elected to the bench of the 69th District Court in 1978 and retired from the District Court in 1989. Judge Sheehan was often requested as a visiting judge by both parties to the litigation in other Courts around Texas. He was also a regularly sitting Senior Visiting Judge in Dallas for many years after his retirement. Both sides of the litigation often indicated that he was both a good and fair judge. While he has many achievements, his greatest passion was for helping children. He felt that one of his greatest contributions to this effort was founding the first rural Court Appointed Special Advocate CASA program in the United States. He was a founding member and Texas CASAs first Board President serving on the Texas CASA board from its inception until now. In acknowledgement of his lifetime contributions to the welfare of Texas children, he was recognized at the annual meeting of Texas CASA in October 2008. During his tenure as a member of the Board of Directors of the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, he enjoyed the singular distinction of being the only statewide appointee by Governor Ann Richards that was subsequently re-appointed by Governor George W. Bush. He was an active member of the community in Dumas for 30 years where he served as President of the Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Board for the Dumas YMCA and was active in many other community organizations such as the Lions Club. He was recognized as the Moore County Man of the Year. Bill served on the Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention and was an active church member his whole life. He also served on the Development Board of the Baylor Law School. Bill and Mary Sheehan are members of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas. He had a life well lived. He was married for 60 years and is survived by his wife Mary Sheehan; daughters, Mary Margaret Ballenger and husband, Tom of Carrollton, Kathleen Sheehan of Dallas, Doedy Sheehan Orchowski and husband, Michael of Santa Barbara, Calif; sons, John Sheehan of Dallas, Jack Sheehan and wife, Kellye of Washington, DC; grandchildren, Dan Taylor, Jared Sheehan, Cody Sheehan, Holland Klar and Grant Sheehan. He enjoyed a long and loving relationship with all of his extended family who will miss him very much. PIf desired, contributions can be sent to Campus Crusade for Christ, https:give.ccci.orggiveFONT face