Merle D. HUMPHREY

HUMPHREY, HOWE, SCHRIBNER, ODELL, GARDALEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/14/2010 at 11:36:49

Merle D. Humphrey, 81, entered into eternal rest Monday (January 11, 2010) at Wright Medical Center in Clarion. Merle was born Aug. 2, 1928, in Algona, Iowa, to his parents, Carl and Iva (Howe) Humphrey. He was educated in Algona and enlisted in the U.S. Army thereafter. Merle was a man of many professions. He was a commercial/private pilot, aviation mechanic and aviation instructor pilot. He owned/managed airports in Storm Lake, Webster City and Shenandoah. Merle also owned a body shop in Clarion for some time. He loved to work with his hands and was a natural-born problem solver. Merle was a Texan at heart; he spent many years there. In 1982, he was united into marriage to Georgia M. (Schribner) Humphrey and they made their home in Harker Heights, Texas, until returning to Goldfield, Iowa, in 1995.

He is survived by his daughter, Sue (Jim) Odell, Everett, Wash.; stepchildren, Randy (Sandy) Humphrey, Mason City, Iowa; Douglas (Donna) Humphrey, Sierra Vista, Ariz.; the late Mitchell (Lori) Humphrey, Clarion, Iowa; Donnell Humphrey, Alexander, Iowa; Monna (Dennis) Gardalen, Clarion, Iowa; and his brothers, Allen Humphrey, Sierra Vista, Ariz.; Nathan (Linda) Humphrey, Rochester, Wash.; 15 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Merle was preceded in death by his parents, wife, daughter, step-daughter, step-son, three brothers and three sisters.

His family will be hosting a Celebration of Life Memorial as Merle requested from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010, to be held at the enclosed shelterhouse at Lake Cornelia. Gunderson Funeral Home, 1615 N. 15th St., Fort Dodge.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
January 14, 2010