John Joseph Humphries

John Joseph Humphries was born April 5, 1939, in Spokane, Washington and went home to Heaven on July 10, 2024, in Weatherford, Texas. The youngest child of Orange “Bert” and Frances Humphries, with an older sister, Carolyn, John grew up on a dairy farm and learned the values of hard work and persistence. He was an accomplished athlete through high school, and later attended Washington State College (now Washington State University) on a track scholarship, throwing the javelin and majoring in Civil Engineering. He filled his spare time as a volunteer firefighter with the college fire brigade and had many stories about responding to calls in the coed dormitories. His summer jobs with a survey crew allowed him to travel with the US Forest Service through Montana and the beautiful Pacific Northwest. After college, all of his experiences culminated with a storied 34-year career with the Federal Aviation Administration, starting in southern California in 1960 as a resident engineer, making stops in Texas, Southern California, and Washington before ultimately retiring as a Manager SFO at the Denver ARTCC in Longmont, Colorado in 1994.

As accomplished as his professional life was, he would say his greatest achievements and joy were found in his family. His sons, Michael and Matthew, arrived in 1964 and 1966. After time in Northern California, the FAA relocated him to Fort Worth, Texas in 1976, where he met the love of his life, Gloria. They married in 1979 and he also gained a daughter, Tammy. Over their 45-year marriage, they lived in Texas, California, Washington, Colorado, Kentucky, and recently came full-circle, relocating back to Texas. Grandchildren Josh, Hillary, Paige, Alyssa, Elliot, and Kadin – all his pride and joy! - arrived between 1990 and 2004 and the endless horsey, Beanie Baby toss, and hide-and-go-seek games began! 

His interests and hobbies were full of adventures. Motorcycle enduros were his passion throughout Texas. His love of flying led to obtaining his pilot’s license in southern California in 1982, and later volunteer stints with the Civil Air Patrol. Travel was a favorite hobby, along with their motorcycle club and riding their Honda Goldwing in 49 states and throughout Canada. International adventures took them all over the globe, from South Africa, north to Scotland, and many, many more countries in between. His photography skills were always in high demand. Thousands (literally!) of soccer pictures of all the grandkids always took center stage. His dedication to kids went beyond his grandkids, as he volunteered with the Loveland Rotary Club’s KidsPak program to ensure underserved kids had nourishing meals.

He was a man of integrity, character, and wisdom, and could always be counted on for help and advice. Sharing memories and stories was especially important to him and will be remembered as one of his best legacies by his loving survivors: wife Gloria, sister Carolyn Fries, son Michael (Roxanne), son Matthew (Gina), daughter Tammy Chase (Randy), grandchildren Josh Hanson (Sarah), Hillary Kreutzer (Bryan), Paige Chase (Drake Embry), Alyssa Chase, Elliot Humphries, and Kadin Humphries, great-grandchildren Asher and Mia Kreutzer, Dylan, Evan, and Willa Hanson, and numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were provided by Baum-Carlock Funeral Home in Mineral Wells, Texas. Services were held at the First Baptist Church of Possum Kingdom on Monday, July 15, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. with graveside services at McAdams Cemetery, with Reverend Dr. Scott Holley from First Christian Church in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky officiating. Visitation was held at the funeral home on Sunday from 3:00 p.m - 5:00 p.m. The family would like to thank the community for their outpouring of love and support through this difficult time.