George Humphrey

Funeral services for George Humphrey, age 80, of Emory, will be held Friday, April 7, 2023 at 3:00 pm at Wilson-Orwosky Chapel with a visitation beginning at 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm at Emory Methodist Church.  Interment will follow at Turner Cemetery.

George was born October 27, 1942, to George Andrew Humphrey Sr. and Alba Stroup Humphrey in Dallas, Texas.  On November 22, 1962, he married his high-school sweetheart, Jeri McAree Humphrey.  They enjoyed 60 years together.  George’s early career was spent as a design/draftsman mostly in the aerospace industry.  In 1963, he and Jeri moved to Houston.  They were both employed by Philco/Ford as a subcontractor to NASA.  Among other things, George designed several consoles to be used in NASA’s mission control center.  Their daughter, Lori, was born in Houston in 1968.  When she was five, they moved back to Emory so Lori could be a part of a small-town community and school.  George returned and continued his career in aerospace as an employee of E-Systems in Greenville working as an electrical engineer and later in management.  The small Happy Humphrey Hereford Ranch was created when they bought property belonging to his Great Grandfather, William Thomas Durham from his Grandmother, Clara Durham Stroup.  The Happy Humphrey Hereford Ranch was created for his family’s farm fun and fun-it-was for Lori.  She became her Dad’s fishing buddy, and ranch hand.  They shared a passion for football; however, they did not always support the same team.  After many years of night school, George received his bachelor’s degrees in Math and Physics with a minor in computer science from Texas A&M Commerce, known then as East Texas State University.  He retired from E-Systems/Raytheon in 2003.  A stroke in 2004 altered retirement plans but George (an eternal optimist and adventurer) and Jeri continued to push the limits of traveling.  Scuba diving had to be discontinued but they took every opportunity to travel by car, trains, planes, ships, and hot air balloons.  He was a licensed Ham Radio operator and helped found the Rains County Amateur Radio Association.  He replaced his original call sign that he had obtained in his younger years to KA5DEN, after his grandson, Kaden was born.

He is survived by his wife, Jeri Humphrey; daughter, Lori Cash; grandson, Kaden McKinney; granddaughter-in-law, Katy; great- grandson and namesake Kooper Andrew McKinney; two devoted sisters-in-law, Shirley Humphrey, and Barbara Fudge; beloved nephews Jon, J, and Alan; treasured nieces, Jacki and Andrea, and dearly-loved cousins, Ray B. Stroup Jr and wife Pam, Margie Stroup Moriarty and husband Dan. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Alba; three brothers, Jerry Humphrey, Jack Fudge, and Thomas Humphrey; nephew, Mike Fudge; grandson, baby McKinney; and cousin, Dorothy Stroup.