William Anthony “Bill” Barcheers born August 24, 1950, peacefully passed into his eternity on Sunday, May 28, 2023, surrounded by his family at the age of 72. Bill was a lifelong resident of Hemphill, Texas.
He loved his community and found a way to create a career centered around that love and passion by serving his community in their times of most dire needs or situations. Bill served the local community with 50 years in the mortuary business, 32 years as an active member of the Hemphill Volunteer Fire Department, 15 of which he served as Fire Marshal. He worked as a paramedic for over 20 years, owning the local ambulance service for over 15 of those years. He served his local church community in the Knights of Columbus and is a proud 4th degree Knight.
Bill’s life was dedicated to serving people. Early in his life, Bill began working to serve families as funeral homes provided ambulance service. He obtained advanced training, schooling, and licensure in both of these fields. He attended Commonwealth Institute in Houston and became a licensed funeral director and embalmer. After working several years at Starr Funeral Home in his hometown of Hemphill as a funeral director and ambulance attendant, he worked at Martin Funeral Home in El Paso. In the late 1970’s Bill returned to his roots in East Texas, moving to San Augustine to become director in charge of San Augustine Funeral Home, which also provided ambulance service. During these years, Bill was involved in the cutting edge progress of “ambulance service” evolving into “emergency medical service” as we know the EMS field now. With extensive education, he rose to the ranks of Paramedic. Not only did Bill practice as a paramedic but he began teaching classes that educated and equipped so many people in East Texas who pursued careers in EMS or the medical field, as well as volunteer medics and fire department members.
It was in this time that funeral homes and ambulance services began separating and operating independent of each other. Leaving the full time funeral service life in 1982, Bill and his young family moved to Hemphill as EMS was getting off the ground in Sabine County. Barcheers EMS provided service with state of the art equipment and education for the people of Sabine County and surrounding communities. Many standard policies in EMS service today were adopted and required for Barcheers EMS staff and protocol before being required by the state. He was side by side with the hospital emergency staff helping to ensure the best care available was provided for patients.
After retiring from the full time EMS operation, Bill returned to serving families through funeral service. He worked again with Starr Funeral Home before moving to Corsicana, Texas, where he served as director in charge of the prestigious Corley Funeral Home and blended with the community well in Corsicana. Upon returning to East Texas, Bill became director in charge of Forest Oaks Funeral Home in Jasper, faithfully serving families there. In 2017, he once again joined the Starr Funeral Home staff, continuing faithful service to families until his retirement.
In both Hemphill and San Augustine, Bill became very active with the volunteer fire departments. Jumping right in wherever needed on the calls—no matter how major or minor the call. He held offices in these fire departments and was very dedicated as fire marshal for Hemphill VFD for a number of years. He was also active with East Texas Firemen’s and Fire Marshal’s Association. Bill was instrumental in the organization of Sabine County Firefighters Association in 1983. Not only was he a charter member, but he was the first president of this organization, an office he held for a number of years. Bill was on the cutting edge of progress in many other ways that helped serve Sabine County and the surrounding areas.
When cell phones were a new thing to East Texas, he quickly became a dealer of cell phone services and equipment. Many people in this area purchased their first cell phone from Bill Barcheers Communications also provided old school phones and equipment as well scanners and radio equipment for area police, fire, and emergency personnel. Bill and his family also provided medical supplies and equipment for the local families as trends were shifting in health care that more and more people were recovering and convalescing at home rather than hospitals and nursing homes. Bill loved his community and the people who lived here. He served as a councilman for the City of Hemphill striving for success within the town.
Wherever Bill lived, he was deeply involved in the Catholic Church and was a Knights of Columbus member. Besides Bill’s public service in so many ways helping people, there were so many acts of love and charity that he offered residents and the community, often on a very anonymous and unselfish level. Many locals also enjoyed spending time with friends while having a good time at BarCheers, a business he operated for a few years on Toledo Bend Reservoir, with food, fun, and drinks.
Bill was a 1968 graduate of Hemphill High School and was a proud member of the Hornet Band. He enjoyed participating with past band members in HHS homecoming games and festivities though the years as his love for the bass drum was evident in his performances. He loved and supported his family with all of his effort. His love for his daughters and music were driving forces that led Bill to serve as president of the West Sabine Band Boosters.
Bill is survived by his wife, Patricia Barcheers; daughters, Alicia Woodard and Stacey Brown, along with their husbands, Josh and Simon, respectfully. He is also survived by his brother, Marty Barcheers; and sisters, Linda Ray and Jackie Sage. The highlight of his legacy are his surviving grandchildren, Preston Barcheers (15), Alexandra Brown (5), Kailah Bryan (9), Alexis Bryd (13), Dhalton Rhodes, Aubrie Bryd (6), and Tinsley Bryd (1).
Bill was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Martha Procell Barcheers; his father, Aubrey “Buck” Barcheers along with his wife, Pat and son, Joe.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 2, 2023, at Starr Funeral Home Chapel, 510 Starr Street, Hemphill, Texas with a rosary beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Services will be begin at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 3, 2023, at St. Pius Catholic Church, 309 Starr Street, Hemphill, Texas with Father Ron Foshage officiating.
Burial will follow services in Hemphill Cemetery with members of the Hemphill Volunteer Fire Department serving as pallbearers. Serving as honorary pallbearers are Joe Simmons and Alan Russell.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hemphill Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 1639, Hemphill, TX 75948.
Memories and condolences may be shared at www.starrfuneralhome.com