Obituary of Sarah Frances Humphrey

Sarah Frances Humphrey Funeral Services for Sarah Frances Humphrey of Elsberry, MO will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 16, 2014 at the First Christian Church in Elsberry. Rev. Tom Schofield, church pastor, will officiate with burial in Elsberry City Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Tim Burke, Tom Burke, Norvel Hagemeier, Winston Bailey, Ken Harris and Kyle Becker. Mrs. Humphrey, 99, peacefully passed away Wednesday, December 10, 2014 at her home. Born December 24, 1914 in East St. Louis, IL, she was the daughter of Thomas J. and Mary Emily Pryor Burke. After she graduated high school in 1932, Frances attended Culver Stockton College in Canton, MO for two years. Frances was united in marriage on August 29, 1936 in Troy, MO to Ralph Murphy Humphrey. This union was blessed with one son, David. During World War II, Frances ran a restaurant in Bowling Green, MO. She worked as a florist for 20 years at Elsberry Flower Shop, retiring in 1978. After retirement, Frances traveled extensively throughout Europe, Africa, Greece, Israel, the Mediterranean region and the British Isles. Frances was a member of the First Christian Church in Elsberry where she served as Elder Emeritus and was a member of CWF. She was also a member of the Jessie Black Club, a former president of the Elsberry Chamber of Commerce and a former Board Member of the Joseph R. Palmer Family Memorial Library. She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Mary Burke; her brother, Lloyd Ralph "Billy" Burke; and her beloved husband of 49 years, Ralph Humphrey who died September 2, 1985. Survivors include her son, David Humphrey and his wife, Brenda, of Wauwatosa, WI; and two granddaughters, Sarah Humphrey of Portland, OR and Maggie Humphrey of Kirkwood, MO. Frances also leaves other relatives, her church family and many, many friends. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Monday, December 15, 2014 at the First Christian Church in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 S. 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343.