Hershell Lee Hanks, 81, of Corinth, Texas passed away on January 3, 2024, in Denton, Texas.  He was born in San Diego, California to Buster and Ila (Slaton) Hanks.

Hershell spent most of his childhood in Hobbs, New Mexico and graduated from Hobbs High School. From there, he went on to McMurray University in Abilene, Texas to major in biology where, along the way, he met the love of his life. While he was at McMurray, he was in KIVA, a social club where he kept in touch with the friends he had made. After a while, he transferred to Southwestern State University and graduated from there in 1966.

Hershell started his med tech career in Wichita Falls right after getting married. A few years later, he was then drafted into the Army where he was stationed in Korea for 13 months and flew blood drive missions to send to the Vietnam War. When he came back to the states, he was stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama where his daughter was born. At the end of his time in the Army, he was ranked a Captain. After his daughter was born, he and his wife moved to Garland, Texas, where he continued to work as a med tech at Garland Memorial Hospital. During this time, he worked on his Master's degree in Environmental Science. Soon after, he had a career change and decided to become a medical supply sales representative where he sold medical supplies. After his daughter graduated high school, he decided to become a microbiology professor at Collin County Community College. He retired teaching students to be the best nurses and doctors they could be. In his retirement, they moved to Corinth, Texas, to be closer to family where he could always be found cheering on his grandchildren at all their activities (basketball, softball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, and Taekwondo).

Hershell had many interests and hobbies throughout his life. Some of his favorite hobbies were collecting coins, watching any/all treasure hunting shows, and watching reality TV shows (Survivor, Big Brother, and the Amazing Race). He could always be counted on to watch any horror movie or TV show, and he even shared his love of James Bond films with his daughter. Now, his biggest love was baseball cards, for he loved baseball cards so much that he opened a baseball card shop to help keep kids off the streets with a great hobby. Even with the shop having some of the craziest hours, he always seemed to have a crowd. Last but not least, he enjoyed being an intern at Dallas Methodist with Gary Robinson because it just so happened that Gary's brother was Brooks Robinson, who was one of Hershell's all time favorite baseball players. The cherry on top was being able to meet and spend time with Brooks Robinson.

Hershell had a love of many things, but he always put God first; with his family a very close second. His love for his wife was tremendous as they had just celebrated 58 years of marriage on December 23rd. He loved his daughter with all his heart and gained a son when she married. When his daughter was little, he taught her a life lesson that she would never forget: JOY (Jesus, then others, then yourself). Then along came his two grandchildren that everyone knew were his absolute pride and joy.

He is survived by his wife, Judy Hanks of Corinth, Texas, daughter, Mallorie Fleitman of Denton, Texas, and her husband, Bobby of Denton, Texas, grandchildren, Megan Fleitman and Brady Fleitman of Denton, Texas, and his two dogs, Cooper and Lady.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Ila Slaton Hanks and father, Buster Hanks, and brother, Darryl Hanks. Followed by his dogs, Nube, Topey, Wicket, Auby, Goldie, Pepper, Doby, Dusty, and Poppy.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society in his name.

The family will receive family and friends on Sunday, January 7, 2024, from 1:00 - 3:00 PM at DeBerry Funeral Directors in Denton, Texas. A graveside service will be on Monday, January 8, 2024, at 2:00 PM at Swisher Cemetery in Lake Dallas, Texas.