Carrie D. Humphry

Carrie D. Humphry

January 18, 1913 – December 23, 2019

 

Carrie D. Humphry, January 18, 1913, to December 23, 2019, age 106.

Carrie M. Downer was born January 18, 1913, to John and Ella Downer, on the farm homesteaded by her grandfather, Henry A. Downer, who was born in Connecticut, moved to upstate New York, and as a young man migrated from there to Iowa where in 1855 he purchased the farm from the government for 55 cents an acre.  Henry died three years before Carrie was born, and her father, John, had taken responsibility for the homestead farm.  Carrie’s brother, Harold, would eventually own, work and live on that farm.  Carrie lived on that farm until shortly before her marriage to Walter Humphry.

Carrie graduated from Lamont High School in 1929, attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa, for two years and received a teaching degree in 1931.  She taught primary level students for five years in Volga, Wadena and Lamont, Iowa, living at home with her parents when teaching at Lamont.

In June 1936, she married Walter F. Humphry, whom she had met while attending Upper Iowa University.  They first lived in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where Walter was a lamb and calf buyer for Wilson & Company.  After about two years, Walter and Carrie decided they would like to farm, and in March 1938, Walter left Wilson employment and they moved to a farm near where Carrie was raised.  There they did crop, dairy and hog farming.  Son, David was born during this time.  Their very marginal farm income during the Depression was a major factor in returning to Wilson & Company, so in March 1940, they moved back to Cedar Rapids, where Walter returned to work with Wilson.  Son, Jim was born in Cedar Rapids in 1942.

In the summer of 1948, the family moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where Walter continued his work with Wilson until his retirement in 1976.  Walter and Carrie participated in school activities in parents’ organizations and on church boards.  Carrie was a Cub Scout Den Mother in the early 1950’s with meetings held in her home.  Carrie’s hobbies included handwork, volunteer work (hospital gift shop, doll clothes, church projects).  In 1953 Carrie was initiated into a chapter of P.E.O.  P.E.O. was an important part of Carries life – she held offices in it and the Omaha Association.  She developed many dear friends in this organization.  Walter and Carrie were active in a Dundee Presbyterian church group called “congenial couples” which served meals to raise money for church and other charitable needs.  Walter and Carrie enjoyed, for many years, traveling with a group of friends to out-of-town Nebraska Husker football games.

Husband Walter died in 1980, and Carrie continued to live in their home on Hickory Street in Omaha.  She remained active with church, P.E.O., family, and other activities.  Also, as owner of her family farm in Northeast Iowa with sons Dave and Jim and their wives, she kept involved with the farm management, and yearly traveled to the farm to participate in the Annual farm meeting with the farm manager and tenants.  Along with conducting farm business, they all had a wonderful time just being together.  For many years, through 2009, she traveled to Dallas, Texas, in November to spend ten days at Thanksgiving time with son Dave, his wife Jan and grandson William.  She would always bring peanut brittle she made for Dave.

In November 2010, two months short of her 98th birthday, she gave up her house of 62 years and moved to a one-bedroom apartment in the Maple Ridge Retirement Community in Omaha.  Her grandson, Chad and his family now live in her former home.  In the spring of 2019, Carrie moved to the assisted living community of Elk Ridge Village in suburban Omaha.

Carrie was an amazing loving inspiration to her two sons, daughters-in-love (as she called them), her four grandchildren and her great grandchildren.  She was blessed with lifelong good health, good judgment, good sense of humor, a cherished marriage with Walter and a positive outlook toward life.  She never had an unkind word toward anyone.  She was an inspiration to all who knew her — a model for living.  She leaves a footprint larger than herself.

Carrie’s surviving family consists of sons, David and Jim, with their wives respectively, Jan and Cheri; four grandchildren: William and wife Charlotte, Chad and wife Leslie, Cara and husband Chad Brown and Michael; six great-grandchildren, William “David” Humphry, Elena and Jack Humphry and Madison, Ethan and Ellie Brown.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Friday, January 24th, 11am, Dundee Presbyterian Church (5312 Underwood Ave.)

 

 

 

1 Condolence

  • Jodie Mackintosh Posted January 23, 2020 7:25 am

    I worked with Carrie when she volunteered at Children’s Hospital. She always had a smile on her face and was a joy to be around. I wish there were more people in our world like Carrie. Sending prayers to all of you.

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