Sheriff Brent Button

Sheriff Brent Button, a beloved husband, father, friend and "Pappy," passed away September 20, 2025, at the age of 82, in Hillsboro, Texas. 

Sheriff Button was born on November 16, 1942, in Wichita, Kansas to Bonnita Lorene Loper and Edwin "Jack" Button. Sheriff Button married the love of his life, Brenda Jo Taylor, on December 22, 1961. 

The sheriff was first elected in November of 1980 and started his 28-year run as the county sheriff January 1, 1981. His first race for office was his closest as he had three opponents, but made it into a runoff, which he won by 63 votes. Running the sheriff's department was quite a contrast from his previous employment of 16 years as grocery store executive for Piggle Wiggly, Buddies and Winn Dixie, but he applied his business knowledge to run his department just like the private sector.

Under Brent's leadership, the sheriff's department became a 24-hour, seven days a week operation.

The county had relied on the Hillsboro Police Department for dispatch services prior to his election. A grant in his initial term allowed the county to purchase its first teletype machine.

Brent inherited what is now the Hill County Cellblock Museum for a jail. It was built in 1896. The county built two new jails, and Brent secured a contract to house Harris County inmates due to overcrowding in state prison system. The money earned allowed the sheriff's department to upgrade its fleet of patrol units, doing away with the practice of buying used Department of Public Safety patrol units, which had over 80,000 miles when received.

He assisted in the county's purchase of the National Guard Armory from the state of Texas, which houses the county jail inmates to this date. The sheriff inherited a $62,000 budget when he took office. That had grown to $2,005,000 when he left office in 2008.

He prided himself in creating a sheriff's department that served all of the county.

He was preceded in death by his son, Lonnie Brent Button; his parents; and his sister, Brenda Button Mills. 

He is survived by: his wife of 63 years, Brenda Jo Taylor Button; his sons, Donnie Button and wife, Melanie of Whitney and Mark Button and wife Arlene of Arlington; his grandchildren, Heather Holloway and husband, Bart; Brooke Smith and husband Adam, Monica Button, Jacob Button, Jefferson Button and wife Amy, and Nathan Button; 9 great-grandchildren; and, close family friend, Stephanie Arellano.

Visitation will be Wednesday, September 24, 2025, from 6pm - 8pm at Marshall and Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro.

Funeral services will be Thursday, September 25, 2025, at the funeral home at 1pm with graveside to follow at Hillcrest Garden of Memory. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Whitney Church of Christ, 100 E. Lincoln Ave., Whitney, Texas 76692.