In Loving Memory Of

H. L. "Hess" Humphrey

H. L. "Hess" Humphrey, 92, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior on April 14, 2006, in Sugar Land, Texas.  He joins his parents and siblings, son Larry, granddaughter Susan Elliff Frost, and wife, Shirley Wagnon Humphrey, who preceded him in death after 66 years of marriage.

He was an athlete, avid football fan, oil man, licensed real estate broker, 32nd degree Mason, Valley Lodge 6, Boy Scout Silver Beaver Award recipient, deacon, Sunday School teacher, and student of the Bible.  He was a personable, honorable, dapper man who sported a fedora and worked out daily most of his adult life. At 88, his doctor told him he needed to give up his trampoline workouts.

Hess grew up on the family farm with his older siblings: four brothers and three sisters.  When he entered Duncan High School, he discovered football and ultimately became team captain.  He also enjoyed track and, later, softball, boxing, and golf.  Hess and Shirley were high school sweethearts and married on a snowy evening in Enid, Oklahoma, February 16, 1935. They raised their son Larry and daughter Jeanette while Hess developed his career. He began humbly doing common labor and was quickly promoted due to honest, hard work.  He was with Halliburton through World War II, providing fuel for war planes.  He then worked for Welex (later bought by Halliburton) as District Manager of Sales and Operations for twenty-five years until he retired.  During those years he taught teenage boys in Sunday School for ten years and served as Boy Scout Master for eleven years. He and five other colleagues formed GoJet Services where he then worked until he retired in February 1986, twenty-five years later.

He was born to Martha Jane Compton Williams and her husband William Thomas Humphrey on October 15, 1913, in Stephens County, Oklahoma.  Hess was a member of First Baptist Church of Duncan until 1954, First Baptist Church of Ardmore until 1960, and First Baptist Church of Pauls Valley for 38 years before moving to Sugar Land to live with his daughter Jeanette and her husband George Elliff.  He then transferred his membership to Sugar Land Baptist Church.

He leaves a legacy of loving family members including daughter Jeanette and her husband George Elliff, daughter-in-law Carolyn, grandson-in-law Clifton Frost, granddaughters Barbara Humphrey Walker and her husband Piper Shawn; Pamela Elliff Broussard; and Laura Humphrey Donathan and her husband Michael Paul; great-grandchildren Emily and Patrick Donathan, Angela and Trevor Frost, and Chelsea and Gordon Walker; sisters-in-law Ida Mae Humphrey and Sylvia Wagnon Collins and her husband Donald, Sr., nieces, nephews, cousins, and many dear friends.  Special thanks to the circle of friends and caregivers of Silverado Senior Living Center and Silverado Hospice.

A service to celebrate his life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 22, 2006, at the chapel of Stufflebean-Coffey Funeral Home, Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, with First Baptist Church Pastor Joe Elam officiating. Interment will be in Duncan Cemetery in Duncan, Oklahoma.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Friends of Alzheimers Disease Research, 1221 7th Street, Sugar Land, Texas 77478.