Robert Louis Humphrey, 74, of Silver City, NM, passed to his Heavenly home, last Thursday, November 20, 2014, at Las Cruces Memorial, with his wife and daughter by his side.Â
A Memorial Service will be held Friday, November 28, at 10:00 in the morning at Baca's Funeral Chapels in Silver City, 3805 Delk Drive, with gravesite service to follow at the Silver City Masonic Cemetery.
Robert Humphrey, an only child, was born in Silver City, NM, February 27, 1940, to Ruth Marion Llfrenhagen-Humphrey and Elmer Clarance Humphrey. Ruth Humphrey worked many years as a registrar at WNMU and Elmer Humphrey, a veteran, also worked at WNMU as a business professor, taught at the school for the deaf in Santa Fe and was a hospital administrator. Robert Humphrey was graduated from Silver High School in 1958 and WNMU in 1961, where he was President of Blue Key Honor Society. During high school, he met the love of his life, ranch girl, Sabra Lee Munson, at a country street dance on Bullard Street. On June 1st, 1961, the couple married and enjoyed over 53 years of time together. Many of those years together were spent riding and packing extensively through the Gila National Forest and Wilderness together and did endurance riding. They even both, for a short time, worked for the U.S. Forest Service on fire-lookout towers and clearing trails. Robert worked as a Park Ranger at the Gila Cliff Dwellings. He pursued several different careers during his life, including being a math teacher at Lordsburg High School and Snell Middle School. After that, he became interested in selling cars and then insurance as he worked for American National Insurance Company for several years, before finding his passion, which was selling real estate. Upon his passing, Robert Humphrey owned Western Realty. With more than thirty years in real estate, he helped many people acquire their dream homes, sell properties of all kinds, and make investments into real estate. He was always willing to go the "extra mile" to help anyone with their dreams. During this time, he also traveled all over the United States in support of his wife, Sabra's, career being a professional western artist. Robert and Sabra Humphrey have one child, daughter named Sabrina Lee Humphrey-Pack, who manages Silver City Radio, teaches business classes at the university level and works with many youth organizations. Robert Humphrey enjoyed many things, but especially "tinkering" with old cars and collecting them. He was especially fond of his 1906 Jewel, the first car of Lordsburg, and all of his early 1900's cars. Buicks hold a dear place in his heart. In addition, he always enjoyed being outdoors, four-wheeling, and our area's rich ranching and mining history.A very important part of Robert Humphrey's life was the Masonic Fraternity. He was raised a Master Mason in 1964 and continued to be an active, life member, in Mimbres Masonic Lodge #10 AF and AM where he served many times as Master of Lodge and this next year, he would have been a fifty year member. He especially supported the many community service projects the Lodge undertook with other area Masons, such as Clothe a Child project. Robert Humphrey was also a member of Georgetown Chapter #4, Order of the Eastern Star, where he was most proud of serving as Worthy Patron with his mother, Ruth Humphrey; his wife, Sabra Humphrey twice, who also served as Worthy Grand Matron (state president), and his daughter, Sabrina Pack. He felt extremely honored to have been a part of his son-in-law, George Pack, becoming a Master Mason and to have been involved in his granddaughter, Serina Pack's, journey through the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, where she served as Grand Worthy Advisor (State President) this past year, and who now is also in Eastern Star. He was very proud of his grandson, Robert Pack, who earned his Eagle Rank in Boy Scouts, and is attending WNMU. In addition to his Masonic charity work, Robert Humphrey supported youth. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Silver City, where he was currently serving on the board of directors. In his past, he was also involved with Lions Club, Toastmasters, the Optimist Club and several car clubs. Robert Humphrey truly lived a life of service with many friends. He always was there to help anyone and believed fully in the good in everyone.
Robert Humphrey is survived by his wife, Sabra Lee Munson-Humphrey; daughter, Sabrina Lee Humphrey-Pack; son-in-law, George Davis Pack and son-in-law's mother, Betty Pack; two grandchildren Robert Pack and Serina Pack with dear friend Chad Paavola and his daughter Eleanor; sister-in-laws, JoAnn Munson Young, and Catherine Munson Smith. Extended family including Edith Smith, James Smith, Bryan and Kim Roberts, LeLen Roberts, Gary Roberts,Susan (Young) and Don Wallin, Trevor and Amber Wallin, Shane and Jenae Wallin, Lisa (Wallin) and William Curtis Lents, Patty Young, Linda Miller, Ida Belle (Young) and John Walsh, Jennifer (Walsh) and David Hare, Elizabeth (Walsh) and David Gilroy, Wilma and Marvin Young, very close family friends Siri Khalsa and Mildred Pritchett, and many others. He had numerous friends including very special friends Travis Bradfute, Gordon Clifford, Adam Gulleck, Bobby Sellers, Larry Johnson,Doug Monroe, Trish and Anthony Black, and numerous others.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Elmer Humphrey, and brother-in-laws, William Homer Young, Jr. and LeRoy Smith and his daughter Emily (Smith) Roberts.
Robert Louis Humphrey "A Life Well Lived" will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend and one who was always willing to help another. He valued family very much, family time together, eating cherry pie-his mother's recipe, playing family card games and sharing old family stories and history. He had a heart of gold. He was good man. He was a good Mason. He will be dearly missed.Â
Donations in his memory can be sent to Georgetown Chapter, OES, PO Box 123, Mimbres, NM, 88049. Entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels.