Eileen is going to out of circuit for awhile. She turns off her computer tomorrow and is going to KC for about two weeks. Then she will go to Texas to get set up.
Her contact info for Mid April and beyond:
Eileen Humphrey
764 Village Green
DeSoto, TX 75115
(972) 298 1873
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
One Week Tomorrow
PICS: Lone Star and EE in their heyday is the 3rd photo, Mom and Pops at their 50th wedding anniversary at Cooper Mountain Ranch (Bill and Cindy's) in west Texas, Pine Valley in Utah with the kids. I realize the two photos are crappy- I took them with my phone from a wall picture..real high tech.
There has been a lot of activity in the past week. Monday, Mom and I went by Metcalf Mortuary and made final arrangements for Pops. I lied previously when I said it was no big deal- that he was already gone and only a shell remained. We made arrangements and then they made him "presentable" to EE and myself. We went in and Mom was ready to leave within about ten seconds saying "I don't want to see him like this." I, on the other hand, was like a little boy and did not want to leave. I stroked his hair and talked to him. He looked so calm and small- almost like a doll. I especially did not like looking back at him as the door closed to the room. I even opened it one more time, in the knowing that this was the last time I would ever see his physical presence here on Earth.
Adele came in late Tuesday, and also on this day, Mom went with KA and the kids up to Pine Valley mountain. She has wanted to go ever since she first visited years ago. Snow prevented a full trip to the top but they had a great day. Note the pic with her. They had a good day and it was good for her to get out. I found the obituary of Lone Star on line in both the Independence, MO paper and also the one in Arlington, MA. Somewhat surreal.
Adele and Mom got pedicures on Wednesday and Mom got her hair done. Adele definitely helps keep Mom preoccupied and also had made her feel better by going to the storage area and getting some of the boxes that we tucked in there 16 months ago along with other items that would not fit in the downsize that happened twice while Mom and Pops were here.
Today Adele picked up the remains and the death certificates to start the changing of names on important documents as well as notification to Medicare, SSI, etc. I took the Boy Scout troop to BrianHead ski resort to do some snow tubing. It's great- since I can't do it because of the immobilizer boot. It was okay. I just need to watch myself because I find myself extra irritated over little things as of late. Part of the process I guess. Every kid loves a grumpy Scoutmaster! I could drone on about the seven stages of grief... but I won't. Plan is now to move Mom next week. Her and Adele are leaving next Wednesday and my buddy Brandon and I are following on Thursday with the big U Haul- 20 hours through the Rockies and into the midwest. My legs are stiff just thinking about it.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Tid Bits
Going with Mom today to Metcalf Mortuary to make final plans for Lone Star. She wants to see him one more time. I guess I will too- but have no urge to since "he" is gone. Mom says she feels a little better but still is a fall risk when walking around. We are checking on her and took her out to brunch yesterday after church. She enjoyed getting out and it was a nice 60 degree sunny day with springtime trees in full bloom. I hated going to church- not for the fact of church, but for the fact of "i'm sorry...yadda yadda". I know it is normal and people do it because they care for you and your well being but it just brings it all up.
Something Pop said to me that I didn't ever put on here:
- "You need to grow a beard." Pops and I were talking one day while he was bedbound and I had just shaved him. He reached up and felt my chin as he asked me "Did you shave today?" I said no and he asked me if I was growing a beard. I told him "No- i've never grown a beard- or a goatee." He responded "You should grow a beard soon. Everyone has to grow one at some point in their life." I assume he meant just men, but i'm on day four of a goatee. Beards are just cheesy- unless your getting ready for a winter hunt or excursion. One mans opinion.
I am going to start a new blog on our family. I will still add to this Lone Star blog with pertinent info related to Mom and Pops as well as what happens with his remains. I will also put EE's new address on here when she gets settled. I have all these blog skills and it will be nice to do a lighter blog on our exploits. I'm not even sure what to call it yet. I'm leaning towards ZipNipTip and the Dust Wranglers- or Lumpy, Beauty and the Three Beasts- but we'll see. You will be able to link to it from here- but only of your interested. We are also going to get back on some priorities we had prior to taking on the cancer ordeal. We are going to get back to looking at adopting an adolescent girl from Africa- or somewhere in the proximity. We also are going to camp and get out more as a family group. Also, KA and I are going to take a long weekend and go to the Mandalay Bay in Vegas and lounge by the pool. We'll see. Thank you again to all for thoughts and prayers in this ordeal. please keep them coming for Mom/ EE as it will be hard in the next year as events and anniversaries and such come up. Thanks to all.
Something Pop said to me that I didn't ever put on here:
- "You need to grow a beard." Pops and I were talking one day while he was bedbound and I had just shaved him. He reached up and felt my chin as he asked me "Did you shave today?" I said no and he asked me if I was growing a beard. I told him "No- i've never grown a beard- or a goatee." He responded "You should grow a beard soon. Everyone has to grow one at some point in their life." I assume he meant just men, but i'm on day four of a goatee. Beards are just cheesy- unless your getting ready for a winter hunt or excursion. One mans opinion.
I am going to start a new blog on our family. I will still add to this Lone Star blog with pertinent info related to Mom and Pops as well as what happens with his remains. I will also put EE's new address on here when she gets settled. I have all these blog skills and it will be nice to do a lighter blog on our exploits. I'm not even sure what to call it yet. I'm leaning towards ZipNipTip and the Dust Wranglers- or Lumpy, Beauty and the Three Beasts- but we'll see. You will be able to link to it from here- but only of your interested. We are also going to get back on some priorities we had prior to taking on the cancer ordeal. We are going to get back to looking at adopting an adolescent girl from Africa- or somewhere in the proximity. We also are going to camp and get out more as a family group. Also, KA and I are going to take a long weekend and go to the Mandalay Bay in Vegas and lounge by the pool. We'll see. Thank you again to all for thoughts and prayers in this ordeal. please keep them coming for Mom/ EE as it will be hard in the next year as events and anniversaries and such come up. Thanks to all.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Obituary
This is an obituary that was complied by John's brother Eric. Thanks Eric.
John Robert Humphrey, 76, died Friday March 13, 2009 in St George, Utah after a long battle with cancer. He was the beloved husband of E. Eileen (Johnson) Humphrey, and the son of Mildred Humphrey and the late George Humphrey of Arlington, Massachucetts. He was the brother of G. Lee Humphrey of Wayland, Massachucetts and Eric Humphrey of Bedford, Massachucetts.
He was born on November 28, 1932 and spent his formative years in Arlington, Massachucetts, graduating from Arlington High School in the class of 1950. He then attended Wentworth Institute, graduating in 1952, and served in the US Army in Germany from 1953 to 1955. He then enrolled at Boston University, earning a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering in 1959.
Mr. Humphrey began his professional career with Maxon Corporation of Muncie, Indiana, as a sales engineer. He became Maxon's Southern Regional Manager and was based in Houston, Texas, where he lived with his family for more than twenty years. He retired from Maxon Corporation in 1990, after a career of forty-one years.
Mr.Humphrey was very active in his church and contributed much time and resources to it, and also Outreach International organization. After he retired, he relocated to Hayden, Idaho, St George, Utah, and Independence, Missouri to promote the objectives of this organization. Among his many interests, he enjoyed the outdoors and participated in many competitive bicycling and marathon running events throughout the United States.
In addition to his wife of fifty-two years he is survived by one daughter, Adele Phelan of DeSoto, Texas, and four sons; Mark and his wife Sylvia of San Antonio, Texas, Todd and his wife Candice of Battleground, Washington, Paul and his wife Stefanie of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Matthew and his wife KerryAnn of Hurricane, Utah. He also leaves twelve grandchildren, nine nieces and five nephews.
In lieu of a funeral, a gathering of family and friends to celebrate his life was held in Hurricane, Utah on February 14, 2009.
John Robert Humphrey, 76, died Friday March 13, 2009 in St George, Utah after a long battle with cancer. He was the beloved husband of E. Eileen (Johnson) Humphrey, and the son of Mildred Humphrey and the late George Humphrey of Arlington, Massachucetts. He was the brother of G. Lee Humphrey of Wayland, Massachucetts and Eric Humphrey of Bedford, Massachucetts.
He was born on November 28, 1932 and spent his formative years in Arlington, Massachucetts, graduating from Arlington High School in the class of 1950. He then attended Wentworth Institute, graduating in 1952, and served in the US Army in Germany from 1953 to 1955. He then enrolled at Boston University, earning a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering in 1959.
Mr. Humphrey began his professional career with Maxon Corporation of Muncie, Indiana, as a sales engineer. He became Maxon's Southern Regional Manager and was based in Houston, Texas, where he lived with his family for more than twenty years. He retired from Maxon Corporation in 1990, after a career of forty-one years.
Mr.Humphrey was very active in his church and contributed much time and resources to it, and also Outreach International organization. After he retired, he relocated to Hayden, Idaho, St George, Utah, and Independence, Missouri to promote the objectives of this organization. Among his many interests, he enjoyed the outdoors and participated in many competitive bicycling and marathon running events throughout the United States.
In addition to his wife of fifty-two years he is survived by one daughter, Adele Phelan of DeSoto, Texas, and four sons; Mark and his wife Sylvia of San Antonio, Texas, Todd and his wife Candice of Battleground, Washington, Paul and his wife Stefanie of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Matthew and his wife KerryAnn of Hurricane, Utah. He also leaves twelve grandchildren, nine nieces and five nephews.
In lieu of a funeral, a gathering of family and friends to celebrate his life was held in Hurricane, Utah on February 14, 2009.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Snuck By The Night Watchman
KA and I spent the night with Pops last night and he had a really peaceful night overall. His oxygen sats got as low as 33% but he showed no signs of distress. Twice he arched his back and took in a deep breath and I thought that his passing might be close at hand. Yet again, he found his rhythm and he got back to his normal breathing pattern- which was oxygen stats at roughly 50% and a pulse of 100 beats per minute.
Right after 8 AM Ethan showed up and we were talking about the night and how Pops was doing. We had talked about metabolic acidosis and how long a body can survive with oxygen saturations at 50% and did figure today would probably be the day. I told him I better go let my Mom know how he was doing and since Ethan was there now would be a good time. I walked across the breezway to her place and gave her the update. I then stated that I wanted to go back and be there while Ethan was there to see the plan. As I went out her door he came out of the BeeHive home and said "he just passed". Just like Lone Star, leave him for two minutes and he goes on- onward and upward.
Ethan said in all his years he has never seen anything like it. He just didn't take another breath- no struggle, no short gasps, and only one successful nerve response which is when the brain stem tries to restart the body. He said it was unique.
They just took him to the mortuary after Jim Hetrick, and Jerry and Jan Jamriska came by from their church and offered a group prayer. There are many thanks in the whole journey of Lone Star's ordeal and battle. I cannot write them all in because I know I will forget some. Special thanks to the folks at the BeeHive home for their loving care, at my work, Coral Desert, for allowing it to be an outlet for my parents and a place to socialize as well. Thanks to Hospice Alliance and all that they have done to ease the transition and alleviate pain. Thank you as well to Community of Christ church for being there for them, even though they could rarely attend. There are lots of friends and family to thank as well. We do appreciate and treasure all that came to the Celebration of Life. It was a joyous experience for all. Thanks to those that stopped by and checked on them- Cathy A, Chuck and Drema, Cindy and George, church folks- this meant a lot especially since they were out of their element and did not have a lot of social outlets because of Pops condition and also because they were so far removed from their home base of Missouri. There are others and i'm sorry if your not mentioned- but your not unappreciated.
I will update on a basis of information that has transpired in the coming days. Pops is to be cremated and his ashes put into six separate containers. EE is going to bury hers in Morehead, Iowa at the old Danish cemetery where they have gravesites. Her grandfather donated the land and hand built the churh amd pews- a true Johnson cemetery. The other 5 containers will go to the 5 children. I will update on where these have been spread. I know i'm gonna take him up mountains and also on a marathon. You don't want to be behind me as I get near the finish line or you just might get a bit of him if you inhale too deeply. I also want to make sure he gets in the Medina river by Bandera, Texas. If a sibling can't do this- then I will. I'll say it again. I loved my Dad.
Right after 8 AM Ethan showed up and we were talking about the night and how Pops was doing. We had talked about metabolic acidosis and how long a body can survive with oxygen saturations at 50% and did figure today would probably be the day. I told him I better go let my Mom know how he was doing and since Ethan was there now would be a good time. I walked across the breezway to her place and gave her the update. I then stated that I wanted to go back and be there while Ethan was there to see the plan. As I went out her door he came out of the BeeHive home and said "he just passed". Just like Lone Star, leave him for two minutes and he goes on- onward and upward.
Ethan said in all his years he has never seen anything like it. He just didn't take another breath- no struggle, no short gasps, and only one successful nerve response which is when the brain stem tries to restart the body. He said it was unique.
They just took him to the mortuary after Jim Hetrick, and Jerry and Jan Jamriska came by from their church and offered a group prayer. There are many thanks in the whole journey of Lone Star's ordeal and battle. I cannot write them all in because I know I will forget some. Special thanks to the folks at the BeeHive home for their loving care, at my work, Coral Desert, for allowing it to be an outlet for my parents and a place to socialize as well. Thanks to Hospice Alliance and all that they have done to ease the transition and alleviate pain. Thank you as well to Community of Christ church for being there for them, even though they could rarely attend. There are lots of friends and family to thank as well. We do appreciate and treasure all that came to the Celebration of Life. It was a joyous experience for all. Thanks to those that stopped by and checked on them- Cathy A, Chuck and Drema, Cindy and George, church folks- this meant a lot especially since they were out of their element and did not have a lot of social outlets because of Pops condition and also because they were so far removed from their home base of Missouri. There are others and i'm sorry if your not mentioned- but your not unappreciated.
I will update on a basis of information that has transpired in the coming days. Pops is to be cremated and his ashes put into six separate containers. EE is going to bury hers in Morehead, Iowa at the old Danish cemetery where they have gravesites. Her grandfather donated the land and hand built the churh amd pews- a true Johnson cemetery. The other 5 containers will go to the 5 children. I will update on where these have been spread. I know i'm gonna take him up mountains and also on a marathon. You don't want to be behind me as I get near the finish line or you just might get a bit of him if you inhale too deeply. I also want to make sure he gets in the Medina river by Bandera, Texas. If a sibling can't do this- then I will. I'll say it again. I loved my Dad.
R.I.P.
Friday the 13th, at 8:20 AM John Robert Humphrey left this Earth to go on to bigger and better things. He went peacefully and without struggle this morning. I would ask you to watch his video as you think of him and I will give details later.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The "Celebration of Life Video" of John Robert Humphrey
http://www.mtotf.com/humphrey/index.com
Enjoy this video of Pops. It was shown at the Celebration of Life.
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